WHO expands Health Inequality Monitoring Network, doubling global membership

The World Health Organization (WHO) has expanded its Health Inequality Monitoring (HIM) Network, doubling membership from 12 to 24 institutions across all regions. The expansion marks a significant step in strengthening global capacity to monitor health inequities and support countries in advancing health equity and universal health coverage.

Launched by WHO in June 2025, the HIM Network brings together leading academic institutions, national statistical agencies and public health organizations to strengthen health inequality monitoring worldwide. The addition of new members broadens the Network's geographic reach and technical expertise, enhancing its ability to support countries in identifying populations being left behind and developing evidence-informed policies and interventions.

"By bringing together institutions with diverse expertise - from epidemiology and public health to data science and policy analysis - the Network's growing membership will accelerate progress in health inequality monitoring, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where data gaps remain significant," said Dr Ahmad Reza Hosseinpoor, Team Lead for Health Inequality Monitoring at WHO.

Building global capacity to measure and reduce health inequalities

Health inequality monitoring is fundamental to understanding who experiences poorer health outcomes, who has less access to health services, and which social, economic and environmental factors drive these disparities. Without robust data, health inequities remain hidden, limiting countries' ability to design effective policies and allocate resources where they are needed most.

The HIM Network serves as a global platform for collaboration, knowledge exchange and technical support, helping countries strengthen their capacity to monitor health inequalities and translate data into action. Its work is guided by three strategic objectives:

• strengthening national and regional capacity for health inequality monitoring;
• generating, synthesizing and disseminating evidence on health inequalities; and
• developing practical tools, resources and best practices to support analysis and policy action.
  

These priorities align with WHO's Inequality Monitoring and Analysis Strategy within the Department of Data, Digital Health, Analytics and AI.

Through collaboration among its members, the Network promotes innovative methodologies, technical cooperation, training and capacity-building, enabling countries to establish sustainable systems for monitoring inequalities and informing policy decisions.

Strengthening health inequality monitoring is central to WHO's commitment to advancing health equity. This work supports the WHO Fourteenth General Programme of Work (GPW 14), the health-related Sustainable Development Goals, and World Health Assembly resolution WHA74.16, which calls on countries to strengthen health inequality monitoring and address the social, economic and environmental determinants of health.

Network membership and governance

The expanded WHO Health Inequality Monitoring Network comprises 24 institutions representing diverse disciplines and regions:

• African Population and Health Research Center, Kenya
• BRAC University, Bangladesh
• Bruyère Health Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Canada
• Centre d'Epidémiologie et de Recherche en santé des populations (CERPOP), Université de Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, INSERM, France
• Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China
• Curtin University Malaysia, Malaysia
• Department of Population Medicine and Health Services Research (AG2), School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, Germany
• Health Equity Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Islamic Republic of Iran
• Indian Council of Medical Research, Regional Medical Research Centre Bhubaneswar, India
• International Institute for Primary Health Care, Ethiopia
• Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, United States of America
• Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Islamic Republic of Iran
• Makerere University School of Public Health, Maternal Newborn and Child Health Centre of Excellence, Uganda
• National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Australia
• National University of Singapore, Singapore
• Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway
• Nossal Institute for Global Health, University of Melbourne, Australia
• Office for National Statistics (Health and International Directorate), United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
• Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia
• Public Health Agency of Canada, Canada
• School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, China
• South African Medical Research Council, South Africa
• Umeå University, Sweden
• Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia

Network members were selected through a competitive global open call based on technical expertise in health inequality monitoring, research excellence, experience in training and capacity-building and contributions to national and global health initiatives. Institutional membership was confirmed in accordance with the WHO Framework of Engagement with Non-State Actors (FENSA). The Network is coordinated by a Secretariat based at WHO headquarters. Strategic guidance is provided by a steering committee comprising representatives from member institutions.

Related link

More about WHO's work on health inequality monitoring

For more information, contact: [email protected]