WHO Warns of Data Gaps in African Health Systems

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that weaknesses in health information systems across its African Region could delay urgent interventions and obscure preventable risks. According to the organisation, these weaknesses leave authorities struggling to identify communities that need services. The warning was issued as WHO released findings from an assessment conducted in 2024 across 40 countries. The report was presented at the opening of the First Africa Health Data Forum in Nairobi, Kenya, on Tuesday, 10 November.

The assessment found that across the region, the adoption of digital reporting platforms has outpaced the introduction of electronic patient records. Although 43 of WHO’s 47 African member states use digital platforms for routine health reporting, only 20 per cent of the countries assessed reported implementing digital patient medical records. This disparity has resulted in information held by hospitals, laboratories, and other services remaining disconnected, limiting authorities’ understanding of health needs and their ability to organise services.

The report, The Maturity and Functionality of Health Information System in the WHO African Region, identified weaknesses in the capacity to interpret information. Only 43 per cent of countries assessed reported sufficient capacity to analyse data at health-facility level, while 25 per cent reported adequate capacity to check its quality. These limitations hinder the effective use of available data to inform healthcare decisions and respond to health needs.

Death reporting presented another concern, with 19 of the 40 countries reporting that authorities received notification of at least 80 per cent of deaths. Twenty-one countries reported documenting causes for at least 80 per cent of registered deaths. Incomplete documentation could conceal recurring causes of preventable deaths, according to WHO. The organisation warned that this could lead to delayed or inadequate responses to health crises.

Nigeria’s Bauchi State was cited as an example of how authorities can use information to improve outreach. Health officials examined vaccination data alongside community information to identify children who had missed routine immunisation and direct attention towards underserved communities. This approach demonstrates the potential for effective use of data to enhance healthcare services and address health disparities.

WHO launched its Regional Health Data Hub in August 2026 to bring information from different health programmes together. The platform aims to make records easier to retrieve, examine, and compare, helping officials monitor health trends, identify populations receiving insufficient services, and decide where to allocate resources. This initiative is expected to improve the use of data in healthcare decision-making and response.

The findings will guide discussions at the First Africa Health Data Forum, which runs until 12 November. Governments and development partners will examine shared and national challenges, exchange practical approaches, and consider coordinated investment. The programme will also explore how digital health tools, artificial intelligence, and other innovations could improve information systems and help services respond to people’s needs.

Key points

• WHO warns of data gaps in African health systems that may delay urgent interventions and obscure preventable risks.
• Only 20 per cent of assessed countries have implemented digital patient medical records.
• WHO launched its Regional Health Data Hub to improve the use of data in healthcare decision-making and response.