Establishment of a centralized civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) database in Pakistan: a healthcare perspective

Abstract A reliable civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) system is crucial for public health, demographic analysis, and government planning. The United Nations defines a vital statistics system as encompassing legal registration, statistical reporting, and dissemination of data on key life events such as births, deaths, and marriages. Pakistan’s current CRVS system faces significant challenges, including incomplete coverage, lack of standardization, public unawareness, and limited use of technology, resulting in fragmented and unreliable data. Establishing a comprehensive CRVS database is essential for improving healthcare delivery by enhancing public health surveillance, optimizing resource allocation, enabling targeted interventions, and supporting equitable access to care, particularly during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. The Resident Registration System in South Korea offers a successful model, demonstrating the benefits of a centralized, accessible database for health research and policymaking. Implementing a similar system in Pakistan would address healthcare disparities, improve disease monitoring, and ultimately strengthen healthcare planning and delivery across the country.