Organisers
WHO European Region – Health Emergencies
Aron Aregay – Health Intelligence and HI Officer
Hugo Filipe Batista Monteiro – ERIMS Consultant
Emanuele Bruni – Programme Area Manager
Ihor Perehinets – Regional Emergency Director
Representatives from Berlin and Istanbul Hub
Mission and objectives
The coronavirus pandemic underscored the need to strengthen the emergency components of health information systems (HIS) at national, regional, and global levels. Gaps in pandemic-related data revealed significant challenges within existing national and subnational information management systems. For example, during the pandemic, challenges arose when public health professionals faced difficulties in accessing critical data due to unclear legal frameworks, delaying effective incident management. Additionally, unstructured data formats further hindered timely analysis, while inconsistent and unsystematic event-based data collection limited real-time situational awareness. Limited humanitarian data is accessible to responders at times of disaster, and the need for an open-source platform like humanitarian data exchange1 is crucial.
To enable Member States to mount rapid, data-driven responses, robust information system architecture is essential. These systems must efficiently manage data to support emergency responses, produce actionable information for incident managers and decision-makers, and be adaptable and scalable to cope with high information volumes during crises. The ability to extract knowledge and insights from data, translate them into practical and effective policies, and inform timely interventions is a decisive factor in the capabilities of Member States to respond appropriately to an emergency.
The Health Emergencies Programme of the World Health Organization for Europe will organise the workshop. A diverse team of experts with extensive experience in the field of digital public health interventions in health emergencies will oversee the organisation of the half-day workshop.
Intended Audience
The workshop’s audience will include selected member states of the WHO European Region, representatives from European public health institutions, Ministries of Health, Academic instructions from Europe and outside, leading research institutions, and other stakeholders. We expect up to 40 participants to attend the workshop.
Expected Outcome
The workshop aims to raise awareness among public health leaders in selected member states, academia, and research institutes about the role of digital health in emergencies. It will also share ERIMS2 assessment results, best practices, and publications.
Format
The half-day workshop will be divided into three sections:
- Presentation of the key findings of ERIMS assessment in priority member states
- Panel discussion on the architecture of health information systems, and the role of digital health tools in preparedness and response to public health emergencies. The Panellists will be representatives from public health institutions, academia, and research institutes;
- Presentation of published/unpublished papers on the use of digital tools in emergency preparedness and response, ERIMS assessment, AI models in public health, and related topics;
Speakers
The main facilitators of the sessions will be selected and communicated with DPH 2025 team.