Washington, DC, August 7, 2024 (PAHO) – The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has significantly enhanced its Core Indicators Portal, an essential tool offering comprehensive health data for 49 countries and territories in the Americas. Originally launched in 1995 with data distributed through printed booklets, the portal transitioned to an online platform in 2021, providing a more detailed and accessible view of the region’s health landscape.
The portal aggregates data from various sources, facilitating in-depth and comparative analyses. Users can explore and download information on mortality trends, morbidity, health risk factors, and socioeconomic and demographic indicators. The disaggregated data presentation allows for examination of the interactions between health services access and social determinants, offering valuable insights into health outcomes.
“The portal offers comprehensive information on demographics, socioeconomic and environmental factors, health issues, and the health systems response, both at the regional and national levels,” said Sebastián García Saisó, Director of the Department of Evidence and Intelligence for Action in Health at PAHO. Among the available data are incidences of HIV and congenital syphilis, dengue cases, infant and maternal mortality rates, and the availability of health professionals including dentists, doctors, nurses, and pharmacists.
Since its online launch in 2021, the portal has been enhanced with new functionalities, including dynamic dashboards featuring tables and graphs for 140 indicators. This data is disaggregated by sex, age, and urban/rural distinctions, allowing for more precise analysis. Technical specifications have been added to ensure accurate interpretation of the information.
“The Core Indicators Portal remains a fundamental resource for policy formulation, data-driven decision-making, and the strengthening of health information systems. It also contributes to the monitoring and advancement of health goals set for the Americas,” García Saisó stated.