WHO renews HISP UiO’s Collaborating Centre status for another four years

The World Health Organization (WHO) has redesignated the HISP Centre at the University of Oslo’s Department of Informatics (HISP UiO) as a WHO Collaborating Centre for Innovation and Implementation Research for health information systems strengthening, extending its mandate for another four-year term, through 2029.

As a WHO Collaborating Centre, HISP UiO will continue to work closely with WHO and its Member States to strengthen national health information system (HIS) implementations and support data use for decision-making at all levels of public health services. The renewed collaboration will further expand and improve WHO’s digital health tools and technical guidance for routine health information systems.

Building on years of joint work, the partnership will continue to support countries in adopting WHO-recommended data standards through structured, interoperable health information systems. Dozens of countries have already implemented standards-based configurations through WHO-supported digital health initiatives, enabling more consistent data collection, improved reporting, and stronger national capacity for analysis and use of health information. These efforts are supported through joint capacity-building initiatives, regional collaboration, and technical assistance delivered through the global HISP network.

The new designation period will also expand collaboration in several priority areas, including: 

• Advancing implementation guidance that helps countries apply WHO frameworks across diverse digital architectures, including through support for the SMART guidelines. 
• Strengthening interoperability and data exchange between national systems and regional or global reporting platforms and facilitating implementation of health interoperability standards such as FHIR and ICD. 
• Supporting integrated disease surveillance and programme monitoring.

Additional areas of focus include improving monitoring for noncommunicable diseases and mortality, enhancing climate and health data integration, and documenting implementation research to inform global best practices.

Capacity building remains a central pillar of the partnership. HISP UiO will continue working with WHO technical programmes and global training initiatives to develop scalable learning resources, support workforce development, and strengthen country ownership of health information systems. These activities aim to ensure that digital health investments translate into sustainable national capacity and meaningful data use.

You can find details of HISP UiO’s designation as a WHO Collaborating Centre on the WHO website.

For media inquiries, please contact comms@dhis2.org.