PLoS Medicine
(Accessed 24 January 2010)
http://medicine.plosjournals.org/perlserv/?request=browse&issn=1549-1676&method=pubdate&search_fulltext=1&order=online_date&row_start=1&limit=10&document_count=1533&ct=1&SESSID=aac96924d41874935d8e1c2a2501181c#results

Meeting the Demand for Results and Accountability: A Call for Action on Health Data from Eight Global Health Agencies
Margaret Chan, Michel Kazatchkine, Julian Lob-Levyt, Thoraya Obaid, Julian Schweizer, Michel Sidibe, Ann Veneman, Tadataka Yamada Essay, published 26 Jan 2010
doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1000223

[Initial paragraph and selected text]
“Recent substantial increases in international attention to health have been accompanied by demands for statistics that accurately track health progress and performance, evaluate the impact of health programs and policies, and increase accountability at country and global levels. The use of results-based financing mechanisms by major global donors has created further demand for timely and reliable data for decision-making. In addition, there is increasing country demand for data in the context of health sector strategic plans, including in countries that have established International Health Partnership (IHP+) compacts. In spite of recognized efforts by programs and countries, the ability to respond to this demand is constrained by limited data availability, quality, and use. Many developing countries have limitations that hamper the production of data of sufficient quality and timeliness to permit regular tracking of progress made in scaling up and strengthening health systems. Data gaps span across the range of input, output, outcome, and impact indicators. New ways of working and a more systematic approach by all partners are needed to better monitor and evaluate progress and performance. We believe that this global public good is a necessary foundation to improve health investments and programs and accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and other major international health goals…”

Eight agencies working in global health – Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; GAVI; Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis & Malaria; UNAIDS; UNFPA; UNICEF; World Bank, and the World Health Organization – “…agree that it is critical to strengthen the five key data sources and capacity for analysis, synthesis, validation, and use of health data in countries. This should enable countries to better monitor and evaluate their own progress and performance and, secondarily, allow them to respond to the increased emphasis on results and accountability. The eight agencies propose four global actions to support these country goals:”

– Increase Levels and Efficiency of Investments in Health Information
– Develop a Common Data Architecture
– Strengthen Performance Monitoring and Evaluation
– Increase Data Access and Use