Sri Lanka Convenes High-Level Stakeholder Consultation on the Global Health Data Governance Framework

The Centre for Health Systems Policy and Innovation of the Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the WHO Country Office, hosted a high-level stakeholder consultation on the Global Reference Framework for Health Data Governance. The session was convened under the Health Data Collaborative’s Data and Digital Governance (DDG) Working Group and brought together leading national experts to review and refine the Structural & Procedural Domain of the proposed framework.

The consultation provided a platform for stakeholders to share insights rooted in extensive experience across health systems, public health policy, and health information management. Participants included representatives from WHO and partner agencies, Ministry of Health and Academia.

Key Areas Reviewed

Stakeholders examined several subdomains essential to strong health data governance, including:

• Governance bodies and roles
• Accountability mechanisms
• Stakeholder engagement
• Decision-making and transparency processes
• Communication and standardized data procedures

Emerging Priorities and Recommendations

1. Establish a National Focal Point for Health Data Governance
   Participants underscored the need for a single coordinating authority with a clear mandate to reduce fragmentation and strengthen alignment across all health data–related entities.
2. Form a National Steering Committee
   A formally mandated, multisectoral steering committee was recommended to provide strategic guidance and oversight for national health data governance efforts.
3. Adapt the Global Reference Framework to Sri Lanka’s Context
   Stakeholders emphasized tailoring the framework to national priorities, legal requirements, and operational capacities to ensure sustainability and practical implementation.
4. Strengthen Coordination Across Institutions
   Clear, mutually agreed Terms of Reference (TORs) were identified as essential for improving coordination between public and private sector organizations and minimizing overlap.
5. Build Accountability and Standardized Processes
   Participants recommended developing reporting structures, SOPs, and decision-making pathways that reflect real-world data practices at all levels of the health system.
6. Develop a Maturity Model and Accreditation Framework
   A national maturity model was proposed to track progress and ensure continuous quality improvement, supported by an accreditation mechanism to monitor compliance.

The workshop marked an important step in aligning Sri Lanka’s national efforts with global best practices. The key takeaways from this consultation have been incorporated into the ongoing discussions under the Global Health Data Governance Framework, advancing collective action toward stronger, more coherent health data governance in the digital and AI age.