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World Health Organisation (WHO)

World Health Organisation (WHO)

The WHO is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for public health. It was established in 1948, and its headquarters are located in Geneva. The WHO works to improve the health of all people, with particular emphasis on communities that are poor or vulnerable to health problems, for example due to lack of access to medical care. It promotes a healthy lifestyle and preventive measures. It ensures health security by preventing infectious diseases and responding quickly to epidemics. It sets and updates norms and standards, including those concerning the quality of food and medicines. The WHO supports the development and distribution of safe, effective vaccines and medicines. It also works to reduce infant mortality and ensure universal access to basic health services.

The WHO, in cooperation with its member states, collects, processes, and provides statistical data on health—along with descriptions of methods and analyses of indicators for key areas of population health. The central source of access to this information is the Global Health Observatory (GHO) and the annual World Health Statistics report.

Statistics Poland provides the WHO with data on, among other things, health, demographics, and the functioning of the healthcare system—in accordance with agreed definitions and schedules. These data feed into the Global Health Observatory and other WHO databases, ensuring their international comparability. They are included in the WHO’s global reports and analyses and are also used domestically to monitor the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, assess trends, and plan actions in the field of public health.

In 2022, Statistics Poland, in cooperation with the WHO, developed a practical method for assessing the health needs of refugees. It consists of four modules:

  • definition of the measurement scope (including access to healthcare services, chronic and infectious diseases, mental health, vaccinations, medicines, maternal and child health) along with standardized definitions and tools;
  • data architecture – combining administrative registers and surveys with modern sources (e.g., mobility data and geographic information) to improve completeness and timeliness;
  • data protection and ethics principles (anonymization, minimization, GDPR compliance, work with vulnerable populations);
  • mechanisms for replication and adaptation in different countries and crisis situations.

In 2023, the methodology was presented at the 54th session of the UN Statistical Commission in New York under the agenda item concerning statistics on refugees, internally displaced persons, and statelessness—as an approach that can be applied globally.

In Poland, it was applied in 2022–2023, and its practical outcome is the interactive dashboard “Refugee Health in Poland”—a tool that enables quick and easy insight into where and when refugees’ health needs arise:

  • What you can view: data on population movements, population size and structure (age/sex), and the most common needs (e.g., vaccinations, medicines, consultations).
  • How to use it: select a location and time period; the maps and charts update automatically; each indicator includes a brief description.
  • Who it is for: health authorities, local governments, medical facilities, and aid organizations.
  • For what purpose: planning vaccination points and outpatient clinics, ordering medicines, directing psychological support, and preparing resources at reception points.

Why is this important?

  • Consistent WHO standards (including disease classifications and indicator definitions) make it easier to design studies, harmonize methods, and improve the quality of health data.
  • Including Polish data in the Global Health Observatory (GHO) increases their international visibility and enables reliable comparisons of health indicators between countries.
  • As part of the 2030 Agenda, the WHO co-coordinates many health indicators, which facilitates SDG reporting and reduces the risk of data inconsistencies.
  • WHO early warning and response systems support rapid decision-making in public health, including monitoring threats, disease outbreaks, and the impacts of crises.
  • Applying principles of data quality and ethics—such as methodological transparency and protection of confidentiality—strengthens credibility and trust in official statistics.

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