National Symposium on Strengthening Mortality Information Systems Concludes at AIIMS

A two-day National Symposium and Stakeholder Consultation on Strengthening Mortality Information Systems in India was organised at the India International Centre by All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi in association with the Public Health Foundation of India, the University of New South Wales, Australia, World Health Organisation, India, CDC foundation and Vital Strategies.

The symposium brought together experts from MoHFW, ICMR, State level CRVS officers, academic institutes and public health experts to deliberate on strengthening mortality and cause-of-death data systems in India.

The symposium was inaugurated by Dr. Vinod K. Paul, Member, NITI Aayog, and Sh. Mrityunjay Kumar Narayan, Registrar General & Census Commissioner of India. Dr. Paul highlighted that robust, interoperable, and analytically sound mortality systems are essential for evidence-based governance and achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat where “every death is recorded and the cause of each death is ascertained.”

He further stated, “This is an opportune time for multi-sectoral collaboration, with an action-oriented approach and digital tools–driven data use, to advance the vision of Viksit Bharat.”

Sh. Mrityunjay Kumar Narayan emphasised the ongoing digital transformation and legal strengthening of the Civil Registration System in India. He noted, “Our focus has been on digital transformation and necessary legal reforms to make mortality data more accessible, timely, and easier to use for informed decision-making.”

A commemorative booklet was released to mark the ten years of collaboration between AIIMS and the Office of the Registrar General of India (ORGI) in strengthening mortality and cause-of-death reporting systems.

Over the two days, thematic sessions were conducted on enumeration of deaths and mortality rates, patterns and causes of mortality, strengthening Medical Certification of Cause of Death (MCCD), implementation of verbal autopsy systems for noninstitutional deaths, digital integration of mortality information systems, and defining a roadmap for mortality surveillance aligned with national priorities.

Delivering the valedictory address, Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Director General, Indian Council of Medical Research and Secretary, Department of Health Research, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, stressed the need for an integrated stakeholder coordination involving the Office of the Registrar General of India (ORGI), NITI Aayog, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) and academic and research institutions.

He emphasised that improving mortality information systems requires sustained multi-sectoral collaboration and multi-institutional engagement. He further stated, “India can truly be called ‘Viksit’ not only when every death is counted, but when we understand who died, where they died, and the how and why behind each death.” As part of the concluding session, a “National Consortium for Strengthening Mortality Data Systems” was formally launched.

The Consortium will promote coordinated action among key government bodies and academic institutions, advance multidisciplinary research, improve data quality and certification practices, strengthen verbal autopsy systems, and enhance digital integration and interoperability of mortality platforms.

The symposium was coordinated by a core organising team comprising Dr. Anand Krishnan, Dr. Harshal Ramesh Salve, and Dr. Rakesh Kumar from All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, along with Dr. Rakhi Dandona from Public Health Foundation of India and Dr. Rohini Joshi from University of New South Wales, Sydney