The WHO Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management (H-EDRM) Research Network has identified that health data collection during health emergencies and disasters is a key element to enable proper coordination and timely response, and research priorities of the network.

Focus group discussion was performed to identify key challenges which hinder accomplishment of the data collection.

It was concluded that the issue faces significant challenges including; (1) Access: Logistic issues including safety, transport and communication did not allow experts such as epidemiologists to access onsite and relevant stakeholders. It is also challenging for local public health stakeholders to accept new experts during emergencies. (2) Tools: forms or tools that are concise and operational to be accepted by frontline responders should be provided. (3) Standardization: to set standard forms or tools and its operational mechanism is essential to collect health data, otherwise collected data will be partial and fragmented. (4) Governance: overall governance of procedure and data ownership must be clarified before its implication administratively and legally. These should be endorsed by local health authorities. (5) Ethical procedure: Obtaining informed consent and conducting timely procedures is difficult. Contextually, health data collection during emergencies and disasters in many cases is inappropriate. (6) Operation: Collected data should contribute to ongoing operation in a timely manner. The discussion also found the standard tool of the WHO; the Emergency Medical Teams Minimum Data Set, which has been already used in more than ten countries and has been providing leading examples for this topic.

Further research to fulfill the identified challenges and gaps will facilitate the collection and strengthen the health emergency and disaster risk management.