13/01/2025

The Jordan Center for Disease Control (JCDC) organized the first meeting of the National Steering Committee for Health Data Governance on Monday. The meeting was held in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, with the participation of 62 representatives from relevant public and private sector entities, as well as regional and international organizations.

Dr. Adel Belbaisi, President of the JCDC, highlighted that this meeting marks an important milestone in building a more effective and inclusive health system that relies on data as a foundation for decision-making and improving the quality of health services.

He explained that the committee is not just a working group but a strategic platform to lead health data projects toward achieving national goals. This includes establishing a comprehensive governance framework for data management at the national level, defining unified health data standards to ensure consistency and integration across sectors, and enhancing interoperability among different health systems to facilitate efficient data exchange.

Dr. Belbaisi also noted that the JCDC conducted a comprehensive survey to assess national surveillance and laboratory systems across all sectors, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Jordan's health system. This process was based on a rigorous scientific methodology.

He emphasized that health data is not merely static figures but a key driver for improving service quality and resource efficiency. With increasing health challenges and diverse systems in use, creating a unified data governance framework has become essential. This underscores the importance of establishing this steering committee at the national level with its clear objectives and pivotal role.

Eng. Mahmoud Saleh, Director of the Electronic Transformation and Information Technology Directorate at the Ministry of Health, stated that the Ministry has implemented pioneering projects to enhance health data management. Among these is the Ministry’s 2023-2025 strategy, which aims to provide an integrated health system that promotes individual and community well-being. The Ministry has also prepared the final draft of the National Digital Health Strategy, which outlines ten key objectives to be achieved in the coming years to support safer and more equitable health services.

Eng. Saleh also mentioned the development of a Supply Chain Management System aimed at improving medical inventory management through the activation of digital tools, tracking mechanisms, comprehensive documentation, and AI-powered demand forecasting.

He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to building resilient health systems capable of adapting to future changes. He emphasized that investing in health data quality and management is not merely a short-term goal but a strategic commitment to creating a stronger, more efficient, and sustainable health system.

Eng. Fatima Hammad, Director of Technology and Information Systems at the JCDC, presented key national digital health projects led by the JCDC, including the establishment of a comprehensive national public health data repository and the development of an integrated national surveillance system that connects various sectors.

She also shared key findings from a study conducted by the JCDC to assess and evaluate national surveillance and laboratory systems. The formation of this committee at the national level is a direct implementation of the study’s recommendations, which aim to govern health data, define health data standards, ensure data quality and integrity, and develop a flexible framework for utilizing health data in evidence-based decision-making.

The committee, chaired by the JCDC, is part of the activities under the Jordan People-Centric Digital Government Program for Results, launched in June 2024. The program aims to improve people-centric service delivery, government effectiveness, and transparency and accountability through digitalization.

Joint news: RS and JCDC