INTRODUCTION:
Achieving equitable, inclusive, and sustainable primary health care (PHC) requires health systems to move beyond data collection toward the effective use of routine information in decision-making. In many low- and middle-income countries, large volumes of routine health data are generated at facility and district levels, yet this data is often under-utilised due to challenges related to indicator selection, data interpretation, and limited analytical capacity among decision-makers. These constraints undermine the ability of PHC systems to identify inequities, respond to local needs, and allocate resources sustainably.

METHODS:
This organised session presents an interactive, skills-based workshop led by Health Systems Trust that focuses on strengthening the use of routine district health data for evidence-based PHC decision-making. Using South Africa’s District Health Barometer (DHB) as a practical case study, the session demonstrates how routinely collected data can be transformed into actionable insights that support equity-oriented and sustainable health system responses.

RESULTS:
Participants will be guided through a structured approach to routine data use, including identifying a core set of PHC-relevant indicators, interpreting district-level trends over time, distinguishing between data quality limitations and true performance gaps, and linking data findings to concrete management and planning actions. Interactive small-group exercises based on realistic PHC scenarios will enable participants to apply these concepts directly and reflect on how similar approaches can be adapted across diverse health system contexts.

CONCLUSIONS:
The session positions the DHB as a transferable capacity-building product that bridges the gap between data generation and decision-making, with relevance beyond national boundaries. It is designed for district and sub-district health managers, monitoring and evaluation practitioners, policy advisors, researchers, and implementing partners working to strengthen PHC systems. By the end of the session, participants will have gained practical skills to use routine health data to inform more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable PHC decisions.