Developing an Environment and Health Information System for Europe - proceedings

Abstract

The project “Implementing Environment and Health Information System in Europe: ENHIS”, coordinated by WHO and co-financed by the EC DG Sanco and the partner institutions from 11 member states, aims to establish a comprehensive information and knowledge system (ENHIS) that will generate and analyze environmental health information to support relevant policies in Europe. The indicators relate to issues such as air pollution, water and sanitation, noise, housing, and more. The project is a continuation of an earlier pilot project (ECOHEIS), which was coordinated by WHO and which has produced a first set of indicator definitions, a database and a website. These elements need to be harmonized in order to make the existing system more flexible and user-friendly. We are therefore developing an information system which harmonizes data collection, basic data quality checking, data management, data analyzing, and data presentation. In order to optimize user-friedliness and promote data usage, the system is developed while working closely together with different user groups (policy makers, environmental health professionals, general public). The needs of these users may differ, but include for instance: easy data entry modules; automated initial quality checks; data format conversion; automated indicator calculation; interactive production of maps, graphs and tables at different levels; linkage of data with meta data; yearly reports based on most recent data; linkages with other information sources such as monitoring systems and research networks; search options; easy accessibility and flexibility. We take into account all needs and (most) wishes and develop an XML database and a web-based interface which countries can use to submit data to the ENHIS project and to view project results. The system is set up by the Dutch Institute for Public Health and the Environment, in close cooperation with the World health Organization and the European Environmental Agency. These institutes have experience with international data collection and large databases, and their existing database infrastructure or datasets are used or linked to.