Progress in promoting data sharing in public health emergencies

In February 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Zika virus-related cluster of microcephaly cases and other neurological disorders reported in Brazil, a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).1 Following the declaration, over 30 global health bodies issued a joint statement committing to data sharing to ensure that the global response to the Zika virus and future emergencies, could be informed by the best and most current evidence.2 The statement represented a concerted effort by those involved to address past failures of timely access to relevant data. It also highlighted the lack of a clear path to implementation for data sharing during public health emergencies. In March 2016, the Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease Preparedness (GloPID-R) established a data-sharing working group which has been working in coalition with other stakeholders including WHO, scientists, nongovernmental organizations, journals and other agencies. This group is working to identify barriers to data sharing in public health emergencies that should be addressed to better prepare for any future epidemic. We review the progress since the joint statement was made, outline the key challenges related to data sharing and summarize the group’s activities to date.