In case of interest.
Fiona

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From: [log in to unmask] at Internet
Sent: 06 December 2000 12:54
To: [log in to unmask] at Internet
Subject: [HIF-net at WHO] Health InterNetwork


'HIF-net at WHO'
The HEALTH  INFORMATION  FORUM with the WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
Working together to improve access to reliable information for
healthcare workers in developing and transitional countries
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Information from WHO:

United Nations Millennium Action Plan
Health InterNetwork

Based on the challenges outlined in the Millennium Report of the
Secretary-General, the United Nations agencies, led by the World Health
Organization, have begun a public-private initiative to narrow the digital
divide. The Health InterNetwork brings together the international
development community, the private sector, foundations, non-governmental
organizations and country partners to improve global public health by
facilitating the flow of health information worldwide, using the Internet.
This project contributes to ongoing efforts to improve information access,
management and networking for health development. The aim is to enable
public health care workers, researchers and policy makers in developing
countries to gain access to an extensive collection of authoritative and
timely health information. The project will provide Internet connectivity,
training and state-of-the art tools for meeting country-specific population
health needs.

The Health InterNetwork will create a public health portal on the Internet
and establish information access sites, both telephonic and wireless, in
developing countries around the world. Some 13,000 new health information
access sites are expected to be equipped with Internet technology and made
available by the end of 2003. This will require not only providing
appropriate technology and training, but also creating and adapting content
and applications to address country needs. The project will enable
communication and networking among public health information users, and
enhanced monitoring of health status.

A pilot phase of 6 to 12 months will focus on completing needs assessments
in selected nations and building the content of the Internet portal,
stressing priority public health programs. Different technical programs,
selected by region or country based on pre-set criteria, will be supported
in pilot projects run in each of the six WHO regions over a one-year
operation and evaluation period. A rollout phase of 5 years will then
broaden the project to include general health and development concerns,
increasing connectivity and ensuring sound content management approaches.

Pilot phase
The following will be addressed during the planning and pilot phase:
- Information and communications technology initiatives. A number of
projects targeted at the digital divide have either been completed, are
currently being implemented or are in the planning phase. To build on
experience and lever potential synergy we will conduct a strategic review of
similar initiatives at global and national levels.
- Partnership. The Health InterNetwork needs support from partners in the
private as well the public sector in order to become a truly global project.
The challenge is not limited to the creation, aggregation and maintenance of
health information but requires mobilization of resources to establish and
maintain new information access sites.

- Framework for country assessment and selection. The stepwise
implementation of the Health InterNetwork requires the development of
country indicators, the establishment of a consultation process involving
all stakeholders, and an agreement on criteria for country selection.
- Country situation analysis and pilot study implementation. Following
consultation to establish national or regional requirements we will
undertake impact studies in selected pilot countries to inform the overall
project plan. The major components for country pilot projects include:
technology (equipment and telecommunications); content (technical);
staffing, training and support; evaluation; budget and accounting.
- Technical program contribution for pilot projects. The pilot phase will
initially focus on international and national public health priorities; for
example, HIV/AIDS and blood safety, tuberculosis, malaria and immunization.

During this phase, two advisory consortia will be convened to address
planning and delivery beyond the pilot phase. First, a WHO-led "content
working group" will bring together national and global authoritative public
health information providers to set standards, determine the content areas
required and the best method of providing and adapting content for local
needs. Work will involve setting quality criteria, and content or provider
selection to meet identified user needs. Second, planning for the logistics
for connectivity and Internet service provision will be addressed by a
UNDP-led consortium. Private partners will provide technical assistance in
designing, customizing and maintaining the portal.

Expected results
1. Country access sites
Following the pilot phase, country access sites will be expanded. A site may
consist of many users, but the basic components will be: hardware/software
installation and support, Internet connectivity and maintenance, training,
content delivery and networking. Sites are expected to be operational
immediately after set-up, with Internet and access to health and development
information adapted for local use. Country evaluation and follow-up will
ensure that sites are running properly and that training and content are
meeting programme needs.

2. Content and application development
- Content provision through content consortium: Initially there will be a
source-based level of quality for portal content (i.e., credible public
health information providers). An annual or other regular review will be
established to ensure quality. Local partnerships will be developed to
ensure content translation and adaptation to meet country needs.
- WHO has a role to play in the development of universal, health-related
software standards for specific global health applications, to facilitate
information transfer in ways that will not depend on the level of
sophistication of information systems and equipment. WHO will formalize the
standards process and define the work as a key activity to support the
provision of content through the Health InterNetwork portal.





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The HEALTH INFORMATION FORUM is run as an activity of the INASP-Health
Programme.
Contact Dr Neil Pakenham-Walsh   Email: [log in to unmask]  Web:
www.inasp.org.uk
The WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION headquarters is based in Geneva,
 Switzerland. Email: [log in to unmask]  Web: www.who.int