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WHO’s work in the Western Pacific Region is guided by the regional vision “Weaving health for families, communities, and societies: working together to improve health and well-being and save lives (2025-2029)”. This vision, which is symbolized by an interwoven colorful mat, recognizes the collective action required to improve health and well-being in the Region through targeted acceleration actions to address the key socio-political challenges.
The Data Strategy and Innovation (DSI) Division contributes to this acceleration strategy primarily through technology and innovation for future health equity. Specifically, the division focuses on expanding ethical use and governance of digital technology including artificial intelligence (AI), strengthening integrated health information system including monitoring of quality of care, identifying, assessing and scaling-up of cost-effective public health innovations in low resource-settings and developing next-generation leaders in foresight, innovation, and technology for future ready health systems.
Weaving health for families, communities and societies in the Western Pacific Region...
Contact
E-mail: wprodsi@who.int
Our Mandate
The Division of Data, Strategy and Innovation (DSI) serves as the engine for the future of health in the Western Pacific. It strengthens health information and digital systems for evidence-based decision-making; cultivates the next generation of future-ready health leaders; builds robust research ecosystems and ethical governance to accelerate innovation; leverages healthy ageing as a pathfinder to redesign health and social systems; and promotes the safe and responsible use of AI to improve health system productivity and address key public health bottlenecks across the Region.
To deliver this mandate, and by working together with countries, WHO colleagues and partners, the DSI Division aims to:
- Reinforce collaboration across WHO in the Region to complement technical expertise with agile, innovative and forward-looking mindsets for country impact
- Foster a culture that embeds integrated and multi-source evidence informed decision-making, futures-based approaches and systems thinking to future-proof health systems
- Cultivate and contribute to an ecosystem in countries that supports tailored application of tools, methods and guidance on operational shifts
- Develop and advocate for a long-term knowledge repository that promotes sustainable learning, connects and inspires key stakeholders in health and beyond
- Incubate, propose and advocate for improvements in organizational work through strengthening competencies and empowering personnel of WPR
Our team
Director, Division of Data, Strategy and Innovation
Dr. Hiromasa Okayasu has over 20 years of experience in both public health and the private sector, offering significant expertise in policy and strategy development for various public health initiatives.
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