Health Metrics Network Launch Press Briefing Tuesday, May 17, 2005Statement by HE Mr. Henrik Rée Iversen Permanent Representative of DenmarkPermanent Mission of Denmark, Geneva . Thank you for inviting me to make a statement at this important occasion. It is a pleasure to be here for the launch of the Health Metrics Network.
· Denmark is one of a number of key health development partners and countries that have signed the Health Metrics Network Statement of Support. We have done it because we believe that the Health Metrics Network is not just another global health partnership out of the many new partnerships that have been launched over the last couple of years. The Health Metrics Network is the first global health partnership, which focus directly on strengthening a key health systems function.
· Health information is the nervous system of any health system and a reflection of its capacity, cost effectiveness, efficiency and ultimately its ability to respond to the needs of the population it serves.
· Donor agencies and the governments of developing countries share a need for improved health information. Building health information systems has been a key to Danish development efforts in health for the last 20 years. Reliable health information, which is properly collected and analyzed, identifies key health development challenges and ultimately save lives. Information is critical for guiding health workers and policy makers as they develop strategies and devise interventions for improving health.
· Unfortunately, the uncoordinated efforts of the past have resulted in conflicting and overlapping demands for information from especially developing countries.
· Through the Health Metrics Network we hope to change “business as usual,” and that is why the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Danida is a partner in this unique effort involving other bilateral development agencies, multilateral organizations, global health partnerships, countries, foundations and technical experts.
· Denmark is committed to the harmonization agenda for global health development. We want to see bilateral and multilateral organizations and global health partnerships working together in a harmonized fashion that supports the efforts of developing countries in strengthening the capacity of their health systems, including the health information systems.
· The Health Metrics Network will be an important part of this agenda. Health Metrics Network’s common framework for data collection, analysis and use will mean that countries can more easily meet their own demands for information as well as that of their development partners.
· This partnership could not have come at a more critical time. Reliable information is needed as all countries strive towards reaching the Millennium Development Goals. It will also result in better information to guide the efforts of other global health partnerships including the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria and GAVI.
· I am pleased to announce that Denmark will be providing support to HMN to the tune of half a million Danish kroner per year for the next 3 years. But as all those who will be providing support to HMN will emphasize – HMN is not a fund. The resources we provide are intended to be catalytic. We expect that they will result in additional resources being identified in countries for the purpose of strengthening health information systems.
· Denmark has set aside considerable resources in our bilateral country programmes for health information systems development and is ready to play an active role at the country level to realise the goals of the Health Metrics Network.
· We know what needs to be done to improve health information systems. Through HMN and its partners we will put the right tools to work. Thank you.
