The Global Healthcare Information Network/HIFA is proud to be one of 218 organisations worldwide in official relations with the World Health Organization.
Our privileges include the opportunity to make official statements at the annual World Health Assembly.
This year, HIFA steering group member Dr Meena Nathan Cherian kindly represented HIFA at WHA 78.
She presented the following statement on our behalf in the context of the WHA agenda item on Universal Health Coverage, on 24 May 2025. The statement is now included in the official record of WHA.
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Access to reliable healthcare information is fundamental to achieving universal health coverage. Every person and every health worker needs access to relevant and reliable healthcare information to protect their own health and the health of others.
In 2023 and 2024, we undertook a global consultation through the Healthcare Information For All global health network. We gathered feedback from 2,400 health professionals, policymakers, librarians, publishers, researchers, and patient representatives.
The respondents overwhelmingly called on WHO to explicitly champion the goal of universal access to reliable healthcare information. While universal access to reliable healthcare information is implicit in the WHO's Constitution, it is not recognised in WHO policy.
We urge WHO to explicitly champion this goal and convene stakeholders to develop a global strategy for its realisation. We and our partners stand ready to support.
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We have received permission from WHO to post our video statement on the HIFA YouTube channel
With thanks, HIFA Steering Group
Contact: Neil Pakenham-Walsh, HIFA Coordinator