[Development of an epidemiologically based health reporting system].

It is the aim of an epidemiologically sound health reporting to present concisely relevant health data in a manner similar to that of management information systems and to comment and interpret them for rational action. Its goal is to deliver the right information at the right time at the right place and in suitable form. Health reports render facts transparent by information and evaluation in the health care sector, help decision makers to act competently by guiding and orientating them in respect of recognising the underlying problems, and thus contribute to coordination and, to setting priorities. Today's health reporting supplements the usual health statistics by primary data collection focussed on current health problems in a population. Computer-assisted telephone interviews provide an equally good coverage as the traditional methods. All this enables to record behavioural changes nearly as sensitively as a seismograph and also to monitor prevention and corrective action in their effects almost in real-time, and, moreover, for a long time (i.e. longitudinally). This approach could be a model for a scientific modernisation of Public Health Service information services.