KDCA named WHO Collaborating Center for chronic disease surveillance, big data

Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said that it has been officially designated as the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center for NCD Surveillance and Big Data Utilization.

The agency held a plaque unveiling ceremony on Thursday to mark the designation, which recognizes its growing role in non-communicable disease (NCD) monitoring and health data analysis. The new designation makes this the third WHO Collaborating Center operated by KDCA, following previous designations in antimicrobial resistance (March 2021) and pandemic preparedness and response (September 2023).

WHO Collaborating Centers are institutions designated by the WHO to support its international health work in specific technical areas. Centers are selected based on their expertise, infrastructure, and alignment with WHO's strategic goals, with final designation granted upon approval by both the agency and the relevant government.

For over two decades, KDCA has conducted nationwide health surveys, including the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the Korea Community Health Survey, contributing to evidence-based health policymaking in Korea.

The newly designated center began operations in May and will run through April 2029, with the possibility of renewal.

As part of its mandate, KDCA will collaborate with WHO and its member states in the Western Pacific region and beyond to help establish and strengthen chronic disease surveillance systems. It will also provide technical support in analyzing and utilizing large-scale health datasets.

“This designation reflects global recognition of our expertise not only in infectious disease control but also in the field of chronic disease,” KDCA Commissioner Jee Young-mee said. “We will continue to generate the evidence needed for NCD prevention and management and take the lead in global health cooperation.”