HIFA in Official Relations with WHO
3 July 2024 Press release: Global health advocates call on the World Health Organization to champion universal access to reliable healthcare information
Background
After 15 years of collaboration with WHO, Global Healthcare Information Network (the UK non-profit that administers HIFA) entered into official relations with WHO in 2022, with an agreed collaboration plan for 2022-4. The plan describes 10 activities to accelerate progress towards universal access to reliable healthcare information: a world where every person has access to the reliable healthcare information they need to protect their own health and the health of others.
HIFA alone is responsible for the costs of the plan. We are grateful to the organisations below for their support, which has enabled us to complete the first activity: a global stakeholder survey. We are now seeking further support for other activities. Contact: neil@hifa.org
Universal Access to Reliable Healthcare Information: A Global Stakeholder Survey
HIFA undertook a global survey in 2023, which attracted more than 2400 responses worldwide.
The consultation sought the views of all stakeholders in the global evidence ecosystem (health workers, patients, researchers, publishers, policymakers, library and information professionals...). It demonstrated wide public support for the goal of universal access to reliable healthcare information, and recommended next steps for WHO, HIFA and partners in 2024 and beyond.
The survey report was delivered to WHO in April 2024 and will be published imminently. HIFA is planning a public online event to present and discuss the findings and will also present the findings at the Global Evidence Summit in Prague (10-13 September 2024). The findings will also be discussed in-depth on the HIFA forums (join here).
We are grateful to the organisations below for their financial and technical support.
Together we can achieve universal access to reliable healthcare information
Platinum sponsors (£2k+)
Bronze sponsors (£100+)
Supported by:
Technical partners:
We are grateful to The BMJ, The Lancet, and the World Medical Association for complimentary publicity for the survey. Our thanks also to Vikram Patel (Harvard University) and Geoff Royston (retired NHS) who have made personal donations (if you can do the same, please visit our fundraising platform).
For more information, contact HIFA Coordinator Dr Neil Pakenham-Walsh: neil@hifa.org
