Bangladesh made significant progress in data initiatives in response to Covid which relates to tracking infection, vaccination and delivery of public interventions, experts said and stressed building network suiting the digital era.
The current challenge is to create a consolidated data hub and to develop a network of data generators and users and promulgate a data-privacy framework.
Most important is, for the public representatives, to make greater use of data resources.
The views came from an expert-group meeting on a project titled "Data Ecosystem amid COVID-19 Pandemic in Bangladesh: A Forward-Looking Review" organised by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) on Tuesday, held virtually.
CPD distinguished fellow Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya moderated the programme where senior research associate Muntaseer Kamal presented study findings.
Mr Kamal said there have been institutional data initiatives in the face of the pandemic, but they are yet to evolve into a structured and regular system.
The institutional arrangements are concentrated on health and have not spilled over to other areas of the data ecosystem. The documenting and archiving process is mostly scattered and accessing micro-level data may become an arduous task
"All data and analyses did not result in decision-making. Buy-in by the policy actors were slower for many cases, and often did not take place," he said and added that new data contributed to policy actions but not all demands for data were met.
Speaking on this occasion noted scientist Dr Firdausi Qadri said during the pandemic period a lot of public-private collaboration and interaction took place.
The award-winning scientist feels that Covid-testing data collection has to be automatic. Ms Qadri gave importance on access to data and making them usable.
Dr Meerjady Sabrina Flora, additional director-general of Health Services division, said the trend of using data in policies has just started evolving in Bangladesh.
"During this pandemic, a culture has developed among us on how we can utilise data on planning purpose," she told the meet.
She, however, added that lot of things have to be done in the days to come on data front.
Ms Flora underscored the need for data sharing among the private-and public-sector players to make productive use of them.
Replying to a query, she said, at government level they do not manipulate any data. "The cases reported to them are being published on their website in real time."
She said people who are not tested do not come under report and only the Covid- confirmed deaths are reported while the suspected deaths remain out of the report.
Brac's Health, Nutrition and Population Program director Dr Morsheda Chowdhury said there is a gap among the important players while data are generated.
"In policymakers' level, they do not know how to use data and what is the benefit of it. We need to make that sensitisation," she said.
CPD's distinguished fellow Dr Mustafizur Rahman said perception is very important in generating and using data.
"We are talking about whole-of-society approach and whole-of-country approach but at the same time we also know that there is data politics as well," he said.
Data integrity has to be ensured for their beneficial utilisation, Mr Rahman added. Dr Debapriya Bhattacharya said the attainment of big progress in data collection and use compared to many other countries is promising and will have far-reaching implications.
"Data quality has to be improved and brought in real time," he said, adding also their compatibility has to be checked.
