RIVM and WHO/Europe to collaborate on health information provision
WHO
The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) of the Netherlands and WHO/Europe agreed last week to collaborate on the further development and dissemination of European health information and knowledge.
Andre van der Zande, Director-General of RIVM, and Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe, signed a letter of intent on 30 October 2012, stating their commitment to work together on health information by setting up a new initiative which will develop a joint work plan of activities.
This collaboration aims to support European countries in collecting, integrating and disseminating knowledge and providing expertise on available data, information, evidence and best practices, in order to improve their health systems. It will also seek to establish and develop further collaboration with other national and international partners.
Health information in the European Region
Expertise and knowledge in health information and reporting in the WHO European Region are fragmented, and not readily accessible or available. This limits their practical application in informing the development of health policies. WHO/Europe is committed to strengthening existing networks and establishing new networks and projects for health information in the Region. This will directly support collaboration between WHO/Europe and the European Commission, which began in 2010 and will be used to develop a common European health information system for all 53 Member States in the WHO European Region. The new initiative between RIVM and WHO will also support Member States in improving their national health information systems.
