Civil registration and vital statistics systems are the cornerstone of public health data, underpinning efforts to monitor vital events such as births and deaths. The Pan American Journal of Public Health has released a special issue dedicated to the digital transformation of CRVS systems across the Americas, a timely and critical focus as countries continue to modernize these foundational systems.

This collection of research and analysis delves into diverse aspects of digital transformation, offering a regional snapshot of innovation, challenges, and opportunities. From implementation of the ICD-11 and digital signatures to ethical governance and mortality coding, the issue highlights concrete examples of progress and learning from across the region.

The special issue was made possible through the financial support of the Bloomberg Philanthropies Data for Health Initiative (D4H).

Several featured articles are already available online, with additional manuscripts to be published in the coming weeks:

• Implementation of the ICD-11 in Brazil: an overview
  (Special report | Prata et al.)
•  Implementation of digital signatures on death certificates in Peru, 2022–2024
  (Current topic | Vargas-Herrera et al.)
• Civil registration systems and vital statistics: ethical challenges and proposals for governance
  (Opinion and analysis | López Dávila et al.)
•  Mortality coding with ICD-11 in Chile: main results and prospects for implementation
  (Original research | Vera Montecinos et al.)

This special issue provides valuable insights and practical knowledge for countries working to strengthen the accuracy, efficiency, and responsiveness of their CRVS systems. We encourage all stakeholders, policymakers, civil registrars, public health professionals, and digital transformation specialists, to explore the content and engage with the lessons shared. 

Stay tuned for future updates as more papers from this landmark issue are released.