In the past decades, health governance has become multi-layered as the combined result of
decentralisation, regional integration and the emergence of new actors nationally and
internationally. Whereas this has –in principle – enhanced the installed capacity for health response
worldwide, this complexity also poses serious challenges for health governance and policy-making.
This paper focuses on one of these challenges, namely the organisation of statistical information
flows at and between governance levels, and the emerging role that regional organisations play
therein. Our aim is to understand the extent to which statistics are regionally coordinated and the
role regional organisations are playing with respect to national health information systems.
In this paper, we address this aim by analysing regional to national-level data flows with the use of
two case studies focusing on UNASUR (Bolivia and Paraguay) and SADC (Swaziland and Zambia).
Special attention is given to pro-poor health policies, those health policies that contribute to the
reduction of poverty and inequities. Our results demonstrate that health data is shared at various
levels. This takes place to a greater extent at the global-country and regional-country levels, and to a
lesser extent at the regional-global levels. There is potential for greater interaction between the
global and regional levels, considering the expertise and involvement of UNASUR and SADC in
health. Information flows between regional and national bodies are limited and the quality and
reliability of this data is constrained by individual Member States’ information systems. Having
greater access to better data would greatly support Member States’ focus on addressing the social
determinants of health and reducing poverty in their countries. This has important implications not
only for countries but to inform regional policy development in other areas. By serving as a
foundation for building indicator-based monitoring tools, improving health information systems at
both regional and national levels can generate better informed policies that address poverty and
access to health. In addition, making this data available would provide a solid basis on which to
identify the contribution of these organizations and ensure governments are upholding their
commitments to addressing health challenges and reducing poverty. The rise of regional-level
influence must be capitalised on to address poverty, particularly in the framework of the sustainable
development goals.