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