INASP-Health

'Providing access to reliable health information for health workers in
developing countries is potentially the single most cost-effective and
achievable strategy for sustainable improvement in health care.' British
Medical Journal 1997; 314: 90

INASP-Health is a cooperative network for organizations and individuals
working to improve access to reliable, relevant information for healthcare
workers in developing and transitional countries. Its mission is to
strengthen and support the activities of organizations worldwide towards the
common goal of providing universal access to reliable information for health
professionals in resource-poor countries.

1. INASP-Health Advisory and Referral Network
2. Health Information Forum
3. INASP-Health Directory
4. 'HIF-net at WHO'
5. INASP Health Links
6. In-country workshops

1. INASP-Health Advisory and Referral Network. INASP-Health promotes
collaboration and sharing of expertise and experience through its advisory
and referral network, which involves more than 1000 organizations and
individuals, North and South. Partners are kept up to date with current
events in the field through the INASP Newsletter.

2. Health Information Forum. INASP-Health runs regular thematic workshops,
with guest speakers from developing countries and e-mail
contributions/videoconferencing with health professionals, publishers,
librarians and information workers worldwide. The emphasis is to support and
help those involved in health information work, North and South. Meetings
are open to all with an interest and provide a neutral forum for discussion,
debate, and sharing of ideas and experience. Meetings are free and take
place in London with facilities provided by the British Medical Association,
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and Royal College of
Physicians. Meetings are approved for CME credits by the royal colleges. To
book your place (free) at a HIF meeting, please email Neil Pakenham-Walsh at
. The programme of meetings for 2002-3 is:

Sept 18, 2002: HIF at e-Health 2002: Access to essential health info for
healthcare workers in developing countries
Venue: Barbican Centre, London, 13:30h

Nov 19, 2002: N-S Health library partnership programmes
Venue: Wellcome Trust, Euston Road, London, 16:00h

Jan 14, 2003: Access to health information for CME
Venue: Royal College of Physicians, London 16:00h

Mar 18, 2003: 'HIF Open Forum and Health Information Exhibition 2002' (tbc)

May 20, 2003: Quality of health information available to health workers in
developing countries (tbc)

July 15, 2003: Impact of health information (tbc)

INASP-Health is currently working with colleagues in Bangladesh, Cameroun,
Cuba, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Nigeria to help develop national
'HIF' groups.

3. INASP-Health Directory. INASP-Health publishes *the* directory of
organizations working to improve access to reliable information for health
professionals in developing countries. Available on the INASP web site, the
Directory serves as a networking tool for building professional
relationships and sharing information, and as a reference for those in
resource-poor settings who are seeking support.

4. 'HIF-net at WHO' is *the* email discussion list dedicated to issues of
health information access in resource-poor settings. Launched in July 2000
in collaboration with WHO, the list promotes cross-sectoral communication
among providers and users of health information. It currently has over 700
participants, including health professionals, librarians, publishers, NGOs,
and international agencies worldwide. The list is moderated, focused, and
text-only.

'I continue to be impressed by the breadth and depth of contributions on
HIF-net. It is amazing how ideas get transformed into reality within a very
short span of time. Keep it up!' Fred Bukachi, Chair, SatelLife HealthNet
Kenya

'A mine of helpful views and contacts.' John Dada, Fantsuam Foundation,
Nigeria

'I subscribe to many lists. This is probably the most elegant and most
informative.' Najeeb Al-Shorbaji, Director of Information, WHO Eastern
Mediterranean Regional Office

'I have found the "HIF-net at WHO" so useful. I am building up quite a
networking system. It is a wonderful way of communicating with colleagues
with similar programmes in Africa.' David Tibbutt, CME Advisor, MoH Uganda

'I've found the HIF-net at WHO discussion group excellent, very
informative.' Emma Farrow, VSO Librarian, Kandy Hospital, Sri Lanka

'I have learnt so much just listening to the views put forward on this
forum.' Ahmad Risk, Health Informatics Europe

'Thanks so much and well done for a great service. I am sharing with my
colleagues as far as I can.' Nicky Blundell Brown, AMREF (African Medical
Research Foundation), Kenya

'The HIF-net forum is helping me a lot. The daily discussions of the
members give us a chance to access this valuable information. HIF-net is
helpful as a quick and easy way to access a number of issues and global
interests in the health information sector.' Aliya Khan, Pakistan Institute
of Community Ophthalmology

'I have been getting a lot of useful information from 'HIF-net at WHO'. It
is wonderful.' Lynda Arthur, Health Foundation, Ghana

5. INASP Health Links is a Gateway to selected Web sites that are of special
interest to health professionals, medical library communities, publishers,
and NGOs in developing and transitional countries. Available online and in
printed format.

6. INASP-Health facilitates strategic and practical workshops within
developing countries, in response to requests received.

Participation in the INASP-Health network is free of charge and without
obligation.

* Join HIF-net at WHO ! Email your name, affiliation and professional
interests to [email protected] [2]