gms | German Medical Science

Background: The ECHI-initiative responded to the European Commission’s call to establish a set of public health indicators for the EU. Between 1998 and 2012, 88 indicators (ECHI Shortlist) were developed in four EU-funded projects, and their implementation was initiated. Metadata for all indicators were documented. The Shortlist is divided into three sections according to the indicators’ implementation-readiness. Decisive factors for an indicator’s allocation to a section are the status of conceptual and methodological development and the availability of data [1]. The Shortlist shall be basically stable; limited changes are allowed to accommodate scientific and data collection developments as well as new policy needs [2]. Work Package 4 (WP4) of the EU-funded BRIDGE Health project (2015-2017) is tasked with updating the Shortlist. WP4 is implemented by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) and the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM); it cooperates with BRIDGE Health WPs, with national experts and international organizations. A core activity is the mapping of data availability for the Shortlist in EU/candidate/EFTA countries.

Methods: WP4 conceptualized and implemented an ECHI availability survey. In April 2016, health data experts from 36 countries (28 EU-MS, 8 candidate or EFTA countries) were invited to participate. They were asked to inform about national data availability for implementation-ready indicators and about data requests for potential new indicator topics.

Results: 23 countries completed the survey (21 EU-MS, 1 EFTA, 1 candidate country). Data availability for all indicators was analyzed. At least 75% of participants reported data availability for most indicators in the implementation section. Data requests at national level were used to measure public health relevance of potential new indicator topics. Most data requests were reported for mental health topics, surgical treatment issues, disability and healthy ageing.

Conclusions: The survey provides a structured overview of current data availability for the ECHI Shortlist. Attempts will be made to collect data from non-responding countries. Developments such as European morbidity statistics and binding EU health data collections (EHIS) may increase data availability in the coming years. Changes towards new preferred data sources and data types for the ECHI will have to be monitored.