National Center for Health Statistics Data Line.

Together with representatives of Canada, England, and Wales, NCHS will hold a planning workshop in early 1990 to provide a foundation and mechanism for international collaborative research on high priority health issues. The workshop will provide a forum for supporting international health statistics programs; evaluating the utility of various statistical programs; and recommending their improvement, continuation, adoption, or cancellation. The workshop is expected to establish mechanisms for carrying out comparative international research on priority health issues, such as infant mortality, improving the comparability of data, standardizing measurement techniques, and exchanging health information management technology. Discussion topics include benefits of intemational collaborative activities, areas of possible future study, and strategies for carrying out collaborative activities. Working groups will be established and researchers identified to carry out selected projects.