A few days ago I highlighted a paper by HIFA members Abhijit Nadkarni, Richard Velleman and colleagues
https://www.hifa.org/dgroups-rss/alcohol-use-disorders-61-do-health-work...
The authors conclude: 'Moving ahead, research, policy and practice in LMICs need to focus on evidence-based decision-making, responsiveness to context and culture, working collaboratively with a range of stakeholders to design and implement interventions, identifying upstream social determinants of AUDs, developing and evaluating policy interventions such as increased taxation on alcohol, and developing services for special populations (e.g., adolescents) with AUDs.'
These are big 'asks'. Can we break them down and perhaps focus on specific issues such as meeting the information needs of health workers and the general public?
WHO has put together a framework for global action - the WHO Global Alcohol Action Plan 2022-2030 - that responds directly to the authors' call to action. The Plan is evidence-based and has been put together collaboratively by the full range of stakeholders.
It would be interesting to hear from Abhijit Nadkarni and Richard Velleman on the extent to which the current WHO Global Alcohol Action Plan responds to the global priorities they outline.
It would also be great to hear from WHO staff and others about the Plan and progress on its implementation.
Best wishes, Neil
HIFA profile: Neil Pakenham-Walsh is coordinator of HIFA (Healthcare Information For All), a global health community that brings all stakeholders together around the shared goal of universal access to reliable healthcare information. HIFA has 20,000 members in 180 countries, interacting in four languages and representing all parts of the global evidence ecosystem. HIFA is administered by Global Healthcare Information Network, a UK-based nonprofit in official relations with the World Health Organization. Email: neil@hifa.org
