Dear Ruwaida and all,
You wrote: "I believe the solution to translating evidence into practice requires a whole knowledge ecosystem approach in which different actors work together to do their part."
Yes, indeed this is the rationale behind HIFA's existence: first, that the majority of the world's population does not have access to relevant, reliable healthcare information, and this is a major contributor to avoidable detah and suffering; second, that meeting people's information needs depends on the integrity of the global evidence ecosystem. HIFA was established to address three intrinsic weaknesses in the ecosystem: poor communication among the stakeholders; poor understanding of information needs and how to meet them; and poor advocacy associated with lack of political and financial commitment to universal access to reliable healthcare inforamtion. We have made some progress through our forums, projects and advocacy programme, but there is much more yet to be achieved.
You can read more about our approach here: https://www.hifa.org/about-hifa
I would emphasise the importance of sponsored HIFA projects. Our current discussion on open access is a typical example of a HIFA project, which helps make HIFA finaincially viable and also provides a focus for HIFA members to explore in depth. We invite all HIFA members to consider new projects for 2026. www.hifa.org/projects
Thank you also for describing the work of your journal: Global Health: Science and Practice (GHSP). HIFA has referred to and discussed papers in this journal frequently. Further to the cut in funding from USAID, we wish you every success in sustaining GHSP without imposing fees on authors or readers. I would like to invite HIFA members to share any experience they have with sustaining open access journals.
"I would love to hear other ideas on what more OA journals, like GHSP, can do to help translate evidence into practice!"
First and foremost, I hope you will be able to sustain GHSP as I believe it is recognised as one of the top, most important journals in global health. It is very important for global health that these top journals flourish.
Second, is there potential for global health journals (eg GHSP, The Lancet, The Lancet Global Health, BMJ Global Health, WHO Bulletin) to collaborate and build solidarity, particularly in this era of financial cuts to global health by the US and UK governments? We have representatives of all these journals on HIFA and we would welcome their inputs. This is also an area that WAME (World Association of Medical Editors) might be able to support. HIFA Steering Group member Chris Zielinski is currently President of WAME and may like to comment.
Best wishes, Neil
HIFA profile: Neil Pakenham-Walsh is coordinator of HIFA (Healthcare Information For All), a global health community that brings all stakeholders together around the shared goal of universal access to reliable healthcare information. HIFA has 20,000 members in 180 countries, interacting in four languages and representing all parts of the global evidence ecosystem. HIFA is administered by Global Healthcare Information Network, a UK-based nonprofit in official relations with the World Health Organization. Email: neil@hifa.org