Data and evidence
WHO/Europe databases updated with new data
02 September 2010
WHO/Europe has updated its European Health for All Database (HFA-DB) and the European Mortality Database (MDB) with new data and indicators.
With over 600 indicators, HFA-DB provides fast and easy access in graphical and tabular form to a wide range of basic health statistics on the 53 countries of the WHO European Region.
In an effort to improve data quality and comparability, WHO/Europe, like other international organizations, constantly reviews data sources and methodologies for producing health indicators. This enables it to make use of more recent estimates to replace earlier time series. The latest HFA-DB update contains major differences in some indicators due to changes in either data sources or estimation methods, or both. In this regard, of particular note are the areas of alcohol consumption, expenditure on health, resources for health care and environmental health, for which data have been recently updated.
The mortality database provides new detailed data for 30 country-years and also includes detailed mortality data on Montenegro that was not available previously. The database also offers easy access to subnational mortality data on 12 countries: Austria, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, the Netherlands, the Russian Federation, Spain, the United Kingdom and Uzbekistan. WHO/Europe plans to include subnational mortality data from other countries in the future.
Health for All Database
HFA-DB was developed by WHO in the mid-1980s to support the monitoring of progress towards the goals of the Strategy for Health for All by the Year 2000 and other important WHO mandates.
The Database is a useful tool for making international comparisons and assessing the health situation and trends in Europe. Data are submitted by the 53 WHO Member States to the Regional Office or collected from other international organizations or other sources. It contains indicators from diverse categories -- demographic and socioeconomic; mortality-based indicators; morbidity, disability and hospital discharges; lifestyles; environment; health care resources; health care utilization and costs; and mother and child health -- for time series that start in 1970.
Today, as indicated by web logs, literature reviews and users surveys, HFA-DB is one of the most used and cited databases on health-related matters in Europe. The Regional Office continuously collects data and issues updated versions of this resource twice a year, in January and July.
