Global Public Health Database Support to Population-Based Management of Pandemics and Global Public Health Crises, Part I: The Concept

This two-part article examines the global public health (GPH) information system deficits emerging in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) convened a global forum on research and innovation for COVID-19 to identify immediate research actions, mid-term and long-term priorities, and cross-cutting research priorities. Biomedical priorities dominated the agenda, underscoring multi-sectoral knowledge gaps and challenges that must be addressed for pandemic health management.

The paper surveys past, missed opportunities for public health (PH) information system and operational improvements, examines current megatrend changes to information management, and describes a new multi-disciplinary model for population-based management (PBM) supported by a GPH Database applicable to pandemics and GPH crises.