The report, ‘The Maturity and Functionality of Health Information Systems in the WHO African Region’, also highlighted countries’ progress in adopting digital health reporting systems.

Of the 47 member states in the WHO African Region, 43 have adopted digital platforms to collect and report routine health information. However, only 20 per cent of the countries assessed have implemented digital patient medical records.

Consequently, information from hospitals, laboratories and other health facilities may remain disconnected, making it difficult for health authorities to obtain a comprehensive picture of people’s health needs and plan healthcare services effectively.

The report cited how health authorities in Bauchi State, Nigeria, used vaccination data and community-level information to identify children who had missed routine immunisation and reach underserved communities.

In Zimbabwe, maternal and perinatal death reporting relied on paper-based records, which could take weeks or months to reach decision-makers, delaying the identification of preventable health risks.

The Regional Health Data Hub, a digital platform launched by WHO in August 2026, was designed to bring together information from different health programmes, making it easier to access, analyse and compare. It is also expected to help identify underserved populations, monitor health trends and guide the allocation of healthcare resources.

The report’s findings will inform discussions at the First Africa Health Data Forum, where countries and development partners will identify common and country-specific challenges, exchange practical solutions and explore opportunities for coordinated investments and action.

The forum will also examine how digital health, artificial intelligence and other innovations can strengthen health information systems and support more responsive healthcare services.