PD 04 - Big Data for Health Governance

Data is now a cornerstone of the healthcare industry. It documents everything from blood pressure readings and surgical records to insurance claims, immunization histories, patient demographics and receipts of payment. But even though Big Data can bridge the gap between healthcare delivery and population health and improve many health outcomes through enhanced methods of research, the detailed collection of personal information poses ethical, regulatory and technical challenges.

This session will explore the opportunities for Big Data to assist governments and health care providers in delivering maximum benefit to society. Big Data will drive fact-based decisions by policy makers and shape how health systems address societal and global challenges in both in developed and developing economies. The increased scope, detail and availability of patient and population data will also influence the broader debate around data governance and the associated ethical issues. Our panelists will illustrate the discussion with some case studies of health data uses to help clinical practice management, surveillance, health system management, and research and innovation.