united nations millennium action plan health internetwork world health organization april 2001

United Nations Millennium Action Plan Health InterNetwork

World Health Organization

April 2001

We the Peoples: The Health InterNetwork

”...As a concrete demonstration of how we can build bridges over digital divides, I am pleased to announce the Health InterNetwork.

...This network will establish… 10,000 on-line sites in hospitals, clinics and public health facilities throughout the developing world. It aims to provide (tailored) access to relevant up-to-date health and medical information...

...The equipment and Internet access, wireless where necessary, will be provided by a consortium… in co-operation with foundation and corporate partners.

...Training and capacity-building… is an integral part of the project. The World Health Organization is leading the United Nations in developing this initiative with external partners."

Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan 'We the Peoples’- The Role of the United Nations in the 21st Century Millennium Report of the United Nations Secretary-General

Health InterNetwork: Goals

Strengthen public health services, using Internet technologies

Improve access to high quality, relevant and timely information

Facilitate communication for public health practitioners, researchers and policy makers

Health InterNetwork: Concept

The cornerstones of the project: Content: provided through an Internet-

based web portal Connectivity: at selected information access

points in countries Training: skills development for public

health information access, management and use

World Health OrganizationMarch 2001

Health InterNetwork Community

Initial participants: health service providers researchers and scientists policy makers at all levels

Guiding Principles

SynergySynergy concept based on existing successful projects content aggregation and authentication, not

creation built from the “roots”, not top down

EquityEquity priced information communication cost

Health InterNetwork: Partners

United Nations agencies Governments Non-governmental organizations Foundations Private sector Collaborating institutions, universities and

health centers

Health InterNetwork: Phases

Planning & Planning & pilotpilot

Planning & Planning & pilotpilot ImplementationImplementation ImplementationImplementation Transition to Transition to

broader scopebroader scope Transition to Transition to broader scopebroader scope

Dynamic public Dynamic public health networkhealth network

Dynamic public Dynamic public health networkhealth network

Phase IPhase I Phase IIPhase II Phase IIIPhase III AimAim

Three phases over 7+ years: 6-12 month planning and development 1-year pilot operation & evaluation 5-year transition to broader scale

Aim: Dynamic public health information network at country and international level.

Health InterNetwork: Needs Assessment

Basis for pilot project development User information and communication needs Public health content inventories Connectivity assessments (hardware, telecom,

logistics) Analyses of public health information

environments

HIN Content Categories

Statistical data

Numerical information sets

Information collections

Health content for varied purposes

Scientific publications

Peer-reviewed publications and their indexes

IT health applications

ICT tools for public health

World Health OrganizationMarch 2001

Planning and Pilot Phase

Pilot phase will develop, over 1 year: Health InterNetwork concept partnership structure and roles framework for site selection site assessment, plans and objectives content consortia and contributions for portal portal concept, construction and testing.

Health InterNetwork: Pilot Selection

Initial selection criteria Established public health project or program Possible to establish pilot in 6 months Potential to measure outcomes Addresses broad user spectrum (across the pilots) Expressed interest and commitment in country Relevant to WHO public health priority area Potential for contribution to global public health

community through HIN

World Health OrganizationMarch 2001

Research Network Pilot IGoal: Test whether online delivery of high quality information

and international connectivity answers the information and communication needs of developing country researchers

Partners: WHO Collaborating Centres in three geographic regions Open Society Institute (Soros Foundation) International content producers and aggregators

World Health OrganizationMarch 2001

Research Network Pilot 2

Pilot deliverables: Feedback on the suitability of the model (content,

ICT components, training) Project plan developed with partners for large-

scale roll-out Development of models for including, supporting,

promoting locally-produced information Options for sustainability of large-scale project

World Health OrganizationMarch 2001

Why Researchers?

One of key HIN target groups: research is fundamental to improving public health

Relatively international character of health and medical research: potential ease of scale-up

RPC programme priority: defined by developing country scientists

WHO priority area: building skills and capacity

World Health OrganizationMarch 2001

Research Pilot Site Selection

WHO Collaborating Centres Clear identification of sites with WHO is

important to partners (private sector, foundations) Multi-country sites will help highlight context

specific differences Priority areas for WHO (Africa) and OSI/Soros

Foundation (Eastern Europe, Central Asia) Chosen from candidates proposed by WHO

research programmes (primarily TDR, HRP)

Examples of Content Areas

Data & statisticsData & statistics

Government Government reports & policiesreports & policies

Library & referenceLibrary & reference

NewsNews

Electronic meeting Electronic meeting & communication & communication

Research & Research & laboratory reportslaboratory reports

World Health OrganizationMarch 2001

• Support existing public health programs• Start from identified needs• Global public good• Equity• No commercial activity

PartnersPartners

PartnersPartners

HINHINConceptConcept

ContentContent

ConnectivityConnectivity

TrainingTraining

Health InterNetworkHealth InterNetwork