Policy experience and inspirations from the construction of population health and health services databases in the United States

The construction of population health and health services databases is a crucial foundation for modernizing national public health governance capabilities. This study, taking into account the practical needs and development challenges in China′s health sector, draws on the mature experience of the United States in database construction and operation. It proposes a comprehensive analytical framework centered on data governance, exploring key elements of database construction, including data structure, management and operation, sharing mechanisms, and funding guarantees. This study finds that the diversity, high level of data sharing, and establishment of ecological chains in U.S. databases provide important insights for China. On the basis of the experience, this study suggests that China should incorporate the construction of population health and health services databases into national infrastructure projects, formulate a unified health data strategy and legal framework, enrich database structures, strengthen data sharing, increase financial investment, and promote interdisciplinary cooperation to fully unlock the potential of data. These measures will ultimately enable the creation of a robust health data governance system with international competitiveness.