Governance Mechanisms for Access and Use of Data in Public Health Crises

Joint research project of the Center for Information Technology, Society, and Law (ITSL) at the University of Zurich and the University of Geneva.

Access to data to inform decision making is of utmost importance in a public health crisis. As the current crisis evidences, access to and effective use of relevant data is not always possible. The research project aims to identify existing barriers for access and use of data in public health crises and to develop alternative governance mechanisms to facilitate access to and use of the data needed to meet public health crises.

Cultural, legal and infrastructural barriers in particular were identified as the main forms of barriers. To overcome these barriers, substantial progress will be necessary with regard to data literacy, interoperability and novel approaches to data protection law. While the focus of this project is to improve the access and use of data in public health crisis, some fundamental shifts are necessary that also apply to “normal” times to enable appropriate reactions to future health crises.