Vital Strategies and the Pacific Community (SPC) have released a new Quality Assurance and Improvement Framework aimed at strengthening the accuracy and consistency of cause-of-death data across countries. This initiative provides a structured roadmap for governments seeking to enhance the reliability of mortality statistics, which are critical for informed health policy and planning.

The framework emphasizes two core processes: medical certification of causes of death and subsequent coding using the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). It offers practical, step-by-step guidance for Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) systems to evaluate and improve data quality. Included in the resource are recommended indicators, audit tools, and mechanisms for establishing feedback loops, which are essential components for identifying and correcting common errors in mortality reporting.

Accurate mortality data is indispensable for evidence-based decision-making. By adopting this framework, countries can ensure their health information systems produce robust and reliable data, enabling targeted public health interventions, monitoring disease trends, and ultimately saving lives. The initiative represents a significant step toward building stronger CRVS systems that support sustainable health outcomes.

Download the framework here.