Why Countries Must Own Their Data
In the global shift toward digital health systems, data has become one of the most valuable assets for decision-making. Along with the transition to Electronic Medical Records and other patient-specific data streams, Ministries of Health increasingly rely on digital tools and platforms to track vaccine distribution, monitor medical equipment, and strengthen healthcare infrastructure.
However, despite generating this data within their own health systems, many countries do not wholly own or control it. Instead, data is often stored on external servers, managed by multinational organizations, or restricted by third-party platforms—leaving countries dependent on external actors to access and utilize their own information. This lack of data sovereignty weakens health system resilience, especially when geopolitical shifts or funding decisions—like the recent dismantling of USAID—suddenly disrupt access.
At Nexleaf Analytics , we believe that data belongs to the country and that true digital transformation must ensure full ownership, access, and control for the national government. This ensures countries can use data about their own health systems to drive decisions and build resilience, regardless of funding source.
Here's why this is more critical than ever:
1. Data is a National Asset—It Shouldn’t Be Extracted
When global funding shifts or geopolitical decisions are made, countries must retain uninterrupted access to their health data. Without ownership, they risk losing historical epidemiological and patient-specific information and critical insights that guide vaccine distribution, medical equipment allocation, and infrastructure planning.
2. Countries Must Own Their Data to Cope with a Complex World
Health systems must be prepared for disruptions from climate change, pandemics, funding shifts, and more. Countries relying on external entities to store or analyze health data risk losing control when international priorities change. Resilient health systems require sovereign control over data.
3. Data Must Seed Progress, Not Punishment
Too often, countries hesitate to report accurate health data due to fears of funding cuts, penalties, or external scrutiny. This creates a cycle where problems go unaddressed. Instead, data should be used to uncover roadblocks and drive evidence-backed solutions, not to penalize governments.
4. Countries Must Control Who Accesses Their Data
Data access should never be a privilege granted to external stakeholders without the foreknowledge of country leadership. Our partners in Ministries of Health have told us about past experiences seeing their own data presented at global conferences before they were even informed of the findings. Learning about this frustration helped shape Nexleaf’s approach and data-sharing policies.
Countries must approve data sharing, and external organizations should co-present with Ministries whenever possible.
5. Storage & Security Must Meet Country Needs
Health data must be secure, reliable, and accessible only by the country. Nexleaf ensures that data storage follows best-in-class security practices. We work with Ministries to co-develop storage solutions that align with national policies.
6. Data-Driven Decision-Making Must Be in Country Hands
Multinational organizations and funders should not own or extract value from country data without permission. Instead, the country should leverage the data to drive policies, strengthen health systems, and inform resource allocation.
7. Long-Term Sustainability for Global Health Depends on Data Sovereignty
With the much-delayed shift toward increased country-level autonomy in how health system strengthening resources are deployed, countries must be able to collect, analyze, and act on their data—without external dependencies. Nexleaf is committed to ensuring every country has full ownership, access, and control over its health data, that health workers have the skills to analyze and operationalize data, and that the systems are structured to utilize the data by implementing data-aligned processes.
A Call to Action for the Global Health Community
Funders: Ensure countries retain complete control over their health data, even when funding shifts.
Non-profits, NGOs & Tech Partners: Respect country ownership—never share data without permission.
Ministries & Governments: Prioritize data sovereignty as a pillar of resilient health systems.
The global health sector must move beyond temporary solutions to sustainable, country-led strategies. Because when a country owns its data, it owns its future.