Only 25% of African Countries Have Sufficient Capacity to Assess Health Data Quality

November 11, 2026 | By Semahegn Nigatu

Only a quarter of African countries assessed by the World Health Organization (WHO) have sufficient capacity to assess the quality of health data at healthcare facility level, exposing weaknesses in the information governments rely on to plan services, identify health risks and prevent avoidable deaths.

The findings, published in a new WHO report, highlight persistent gaps in the collection, verification and use of health information across the continent. The assessment found that only 25 percent of the 40 countries surveyed had sufficient capacity to evaluate data quality at health facilities, while 43 percent had adequate capacity to analyse the information.

The report, The Maturity and Functionality of Health Information System in the WHO African Region, warns that unreliable or poorly analysed information can prevent health authorities from identifying gaps in healthcare delivery and directing medical personnel, equipment and other resources to communities that need them most.

Death registration remains another significant weakness. Only 19 of the 40 countries assessed reported notifying authorities of at least 80 percent of deaths. Meanwhile, 21 countries recorded the causes of death for at least 80 percent of registered deaths.

Incomplete records make it difficult for governments to establish why people are dying, identify patterns of preventable mortality and determine where improvements in healthcare are needed.

"When we do not know why people are dying, which children are missing essential services or where communities face the greatest health risks, we may overlook the very people who need our attention most," said Dr Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

Conducted in 2024 across 40 of the WHO African Region's 47 member states, the assessment gave health information systems an average maturity score of 59 out of 100. Country scores ranged from 26 to 93, reflecting considerable differences in institutional capacity.

Financing and governance also emerged as constraints. Only 18 percent of countries assessed reported having a dedicated budget line for health information systems, while 35 percent had an up-to-date national policy guiding their development.

The findings come despite progress in digital health reporting. Forty-three of the region's 47 member states have adopted digital platforms for collecting and reporting routine health information. However, only 20 percent of the countries assessed reported implementing digital patient medical records.

Fewer than half had established frameworks allowing different health information systems to exchange information. This leaves information from hospitals, laboratories and other healthcare services disconnected, making it harder for authorities to develop a comprehensive picture of population health needs.

Experiences in individual countries illustrate the consequences of weak information systems. In Zimbabwe, maternal and perinatal death reporting previously relied on paper-based records that could take weeks or months to reach decision-makers, delaying the identification of preventable risks.

In Nigeria's Bauchi State, health authorities used vaccination data and community-level information to identify children who had missed routine immunisation and target underserved communities.

In response to the challenges, WHO launched the Regional Health Data Hub in August 2026. The digital platform is designed to consolidate information from different health programmes, improve access to comparable data and help governments identify underserved populations and monitor health trends.

The findings were presented on November 10 at the opening of the First Africa Health Data Forum in Nairobi, Kenya. The three-day meeting, running until November 12, brings together health ministers, government officials, WHO representatives and development partners to discuss investment priorities and practical solutions for strengthening health information systems.

Discussions are also expected to examine how digital health technologies and artificial intelligence could improve data management and support healthcare planning.

Source: FSX Business News