Global Public Health Surveillance using Media Reports: Redesigning GPHIN

TL;DR

This paper discusses the redesign of GPHIN, a global health surveillance system that uses media reports to detect health events more quickly and effectively, addressing previous barriers and enhancing its capabilities.

Contribution

The paper introduces the next generation of GPHIN, detailing new design features and innovations implemented in 2017 to improve global health surveillance.

Findings

Enhanced detection speed of health events

Improved reporting accuracy and reliability

New functionalities for real-time analysis

Abstract

Global public health surveillance relies on reporting structures and transmission of trustworthy health reports. But in practice, these processes may not always be fast enough, or are hindered by procedural, technical, or political barriers. GPHIN, the Global Public Health Intelligence Network, was designed in the late 1990s to scour mainstream news for health events, as that travels faster and more freely. This paper outlines the next generation of GPHIN, which went live in 2017, and reports on design decisions underpinning its new functions and innovations.