Access to Health Research

A world where every person will have access to the health research literature they need to protect their own health and the health of others

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Overview

Definition: 'Health research information' here refers primarily (but not exclusively) to peer-reviewed research papers, as typically published in journals.

The HIFA Access to Health Research project is planning a Roundtable at the Geneva Health Forum, 24th March 2020, on the theme What next steps are needed to improve the availability and use of health research information in LMICs? Join HIFA to take part in the pre-event thematic discussion on the following questions:

Increasing the availability and use of quality health research information is fundamental to the successful attainment of global health and progressive realization of the right to health. Who needs access and why? What is our vision of access to and use of health research information in LMICs in 2030?
What steps are needed to promote open access (for publishers, researchers and users in LMICs)?
What steps are needed to address the challenges of open access (for publishers, researchers and users in LMICs)?
What other steps (other than open access) are needed to increase the availability and use of health research information?
How shall we take this forward? (eg through a Statement/Declaration)

Activities

In 2018-2020, HIFA is supported by Elsevier and The Lancet:

To raise global awareness of issues relating to availability and use of health research in LMICs
To build on the success of the HIFA Thematic Discussion on Access to Health Research held in July/August 2015 and culminating in the Manila Declaration
To promote discussion on the HIFA forums about the availability and use of health research and ways to increase access
To identify areas where more research is needed to understand how to improve the availability and use of research information in LMICs
To attract more researchers, publishers and users of research to join and actively participate in the HIFA forums
To monitor progress on the above.

The HIFA Access to Health Research project promotes communication, understanding and advocacy across the HIFA global community, around the following questions:

How can health research from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) be made more visible and accessible?
How can research be made more accessible to users in LMICs?
How can research be made available in the right language, both for producers as well as consumers of health research?
How can we improve access to the full text of research papers?
How can we improve access to complementary and derivative publications (eg plain-language summaries, commentaries, policy briefs)?
How can we improve the availability and use of health research in LMICs through non-traditional dissemination channels (eg social media, communities of practice, blogs, mobile phones)?

Publications

Open Access: Perceptions and misconceptions - Presentation at APAME conference, China, September 2019

2019

Open Access: Perceptions and misconceptions - Long edit

2019

Open Access: Perceptions and misconceptions - Full compilation

2019

Open Access: Perceptions and misconceptions - Literature review and background paper

2019

By Catriona Grant and members of the HIFA Access to Health Research Working Group
with thanks to John Eyers (HIFA literature search expert)

This paper was prepared as a background paper for the HIFA thematic discussion on Open Access: Perceptions and misconceptions

'Open Access (OA) publishing is arguably one of the most important determinants in ensuring equitable, ethical and sustainable dissemination of health research and thereby reduce suffering and save lives...'

HIFA Case Study: Access to Health Research

2017

This case study outlines the ongoing work of the HIFA Working Group on Access to Health Research. With thanks to support from Elsevier, The Lancet, Asia Pacific Association of Medical Editors, Council on Health Research for Development, and British Medical Association.

HIFA and its community are able to provide innovative solutions to address global health issues and to help your Organisation realise its goals. To explore how we can help please contact the HIFA Coordinator: neil@hifa.org www.hifa.org

HIFA A2HR: Seven priorities for action

2017

During 2015 and 2016 the HIFA Project on Access to Health Research implemented a series of thematic discussions on the HIFA forums on a wide range of questions. The project working group has now reviewed the outputs of these discussions with a view to taking forward specific issues through advocacy and action. We welcome your comments and suggestions on ways forward.

HIFA Project on Access to Health Research

Seven priorities for action

How can research be made more accessible in LMICs? (Edited summary version)

2017

From 7 November to 2 December 2016 HIFA hosted a thematic discussion around the question: How can health research be made more accessible in low- and middle-income countries? This is an edited Summary version of the discussion.

How can research be made more accessible in LMICs? (Compilation full text)

2017

From 7 November to 2 December 2016 HIFA hosted a thematic discussion around the question: How can health research be made more accessible in low- and middle-income countries?

How can health research from LMICs be made more accessible?

2016

From 6 June to 3 July 2016 HIFA hosted a thematic discussion around the question: How can health research from low- and middle-income countries be made more accessible? This summary presents the key issues expressed by HIFA members:

Low research capacity
Failure to publish research
Publishing charges
Prejudice against national journals
Prejudice against open access journals.

Manila Declaration on the Availability and Use of Health Research Information in and for Low- and Middle-Income Countries

2015

"We, the participants in the Joint Meeting of the Asia Pacific Association of Medical Journal Editors (APAME), the Index Medicus of the South East Asia Region (IMSEAR), and the Western Pacific Region Index Medicus (WPRIM) held in Manila from 24 to 26 August 2015, in conjunction with the COHRED Global Forum on Research and Innovation for Health held in Manila from 24-27 August 2015, drawing on the Pre-Forum Discussions on HIFA from 20 July to 24 August 2015..."

Highlights of HIFA discussion on Access to Health Research

2015

This major thematic discussion (20 July to 24 August 2015) included over 100 messages from Brazil, Cambodia, Honduras, India, Italy, Mauritius, Mozambique, Netherlands, Nigeria, Philippines, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Tanzania, UK, USA and Zambia. All messages can be viewed in full by joining HIFA - go to www.hifa.org/joinhifa ‐ membership is free. The discussion contributed directly to the Manila Declaration 2015. We are grateful to the following organisations for their support: The Lancet, Elsevier, APAME, COHRED.

Members

The members of the Access to Health Research working group lead the wider HIFA community to promote the availability and use of health research, with a focus on access to the full text of research papers.

Name		Country
	Andy Nobes	United Kingdom
	Anne Powell	United Kingdom
	Chris Zielinski	United Kingdom
	Isabelle Wachsmuth-Huguet	Switzerland
	John Eyers	United Kingdom
	Jose Florencio F. Lapena	Philippines
	Joseph Ana	Nigeria
	Najeeb Al-Shorbaji	Jordan
	Neil Pakenham-Walsh	United Kingdom
	Nilam McGrath	United Kingdom
	Virginia Barbour	Australia
	Ylann Schemm	Netherlands

Further information

In 2015, HIFA hosted a thematic discussion on access to health research, sponsored by The Lancet, COHRED, and APAME, leading to the Global Forum on Research and Innovation for Health, Manila, 24-27 August 2015, held in conjunction with the Asia Pacific Association of Medical Journal Editors 2015 Annual Convention, Manila, 25-26 August 2015. The discussion (selected highlights here) provided a unique opportunity for HIFA members worldwide to contribute their experience and expertise to the Manila Declaration for the Availability and Use of Health Research Information in and for Low- and Middle-Income Countries in the Asia Pacific Region, ratified in Manila, 26 August 2015.

We are grateful to Elsevier for sponsorship of the project in 2016. This funding goes solely to pay for the time of the HIFA coordinator and not to any of the working group, all of whom are volunteers.

For further information, please contact the Access to Health Research coordinator, Neil Pakenham-Walsh: neil@hifa.org

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