Good news - We have received official confirmation of renewal of official relations status with WHO 2025-2027!
WHO reviewed our collaboration over the past 3 years and they have renewed our official relations status for 2025-2027 (alongside other NGOs in official relations including AMREF, Cochrane, International Council of Nurses, Oxfam, and the Rockefeller Foundation). They write: ‘The WHO Executive Board commended the continuing dedication of Global Healthcare Information Network in supporting the work of WHO and looks forward to our continuing collaboration towards WHO's mission to promote health, keep the world safe and serve the vulnerable'.
I invite you all to review the final agreed HIFA-WHO Collaboration Plan 2025-2027
In particular, please note the following Activities 1.1 and 1.2:
Activity 1.1: At WHO`s request, provide technical input for WHO`s consideration that may inform its work to accelerate progress towards universal access to reliable healthcare information ..." (my emphasis)
Activity 1.2: As requested by WHO, provide technical input for WHO`s consideration that may inform the Organization`s activities when considering the feasibility and development of a global strategy for universal access to reliable healthcare information..." (my emphasis)
The above is important because it clearly brings us one step closer to what the 2,410 respondents in our global consultation are calling for: for WHO to explicitly commit to universal access and for WHO to convene stakeholders to develop a global strategy, with support from HIFA.
Our challenge now is to take this forward, including finding the money to make it happen. The whole plan is costed at over $500k – while we may be unlikely to raise this in practice, the Plan is structured in 11 activities, with the first three activities costed at $30k. Even if we can only deliver the first three activities, this will likely be enough for us to secure a further three years from 2028-2031, so that we may continue our collaboration in the long term.
I am delighted to report that the Elsevier Foundation has already provided £5k ($6.4k) for our work with WHO.
We are now seeking financial contributions from other organisations for our work with WHO. I invite you to consider whether you, or your organisation, can contribute to the HIFA-WHO Collaboration Plan. All organisations that contribute £100+ will be prominently recognised on the home page of our website, publications and presentations, as described in our recent news item here:
https://www.hifa.org/news/hifa-partner-initiative-hifa-recognises-21-org...
You can donate via bank transfer to:
Account name: Healthcare Information For All (HIFA)
Account number: 65873036
IBAN: GB36 CPBK 089299 65873036
Bank: Co-operative Bank, UK
Sort code: 08-92-99
Or via our dedicated fundraising platform: https://hifa.online-donation.co.uk/general (note that this incurs a small commission charge)
With thanks for your support, Neil
Dr Neil Pakenham-Walsh MB,BS
Coordinator, Healthcare Information For All
On behalf of the HIFA-WHO Collaboration working group