Monitoring the achievement of the health-related SDGs, the GPW 13 and the EPW: “Core health indicators in the WHO European Region”
Tracking health trends to achieve global and regional priorities
Core health indicators provide valuable measurements for monitoring progress towards the achievement of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other health and well-being targets in the 53 Member States of the Region. They serve as a baseline for WHO’s Thirteenth General Programme of Work 2019–2023 (GPW 13) and European Programme of Work 2020–2025 (EPW) – “United Action for Better Health in Europe”.
The SDG and GPW 13 frameworks present shared global priorities. The EPW takes those priorities and adapts them to the regional context, emphasizing the magnitude and diversity of public health issues and challenges in our Region.
The report “Core health indicators in the WHO European Region”, produced each year with updated data and infographics, highlights key facts and figures that are critical to monitoring health trends.
Data collection through partnerships
The data contained in each report are the result of long-standing collaborations with Member States and other bilateral and multilateral agencies. These data were compiled, validated and processed in a standard way by Eurostat, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, WHO, and other United Nations agencies and international networks to improve the international comparability of the statistics.
Nevertheless, many factors may influence the accuracy and comparability of national statistics, such as variations in definition, incomplete registration, and other national specificities in data recording and processing. The international comparison of indicators should, therefore, always be interpreted with caution.
Understanding trends and taking evidence-based action
Both the GPW 13 and the EPW cite the ability to collect and analyse data as critical to WHO’s work to improve health throughout the life course.
Each year, “Core health indicators” compiles information on key health domains such as health status, determinants of health, risk factors, health systems and service utilization. This information is derived from data routinely submitted to WHO by national health and statistical authorities and other international agencies.
The reports are a testament to Member States’ commitment to producing timely and reliable high-quality data each year. They enable public health professionals and policy-makers alike to observe trends and utilize data for evidence-based action.
How WHO/Europe implements the EPW
Each edition of “Core health indicators” has a unique theme, but all themes relate back to the implementation of the EPW, which aims to shape national health policies across the Region and improve the health and well-being of the European population.
The EPW sets out a vision of how WHO/Europe can support Member States’ health authorities in meeting the challenges before them. The “Core health indicators” reports collect and display the data necessary to respond to these challenges.
