Dear HIFA colleagues,
HIFA members have long argued that if WHO were to explicitly champion universal access to reliable healthcare information, and lead efforts to accelerate progress, this would be a game-changer for global health. We have been increasingly hopeful that this is imminent, following many years of HIFA advocacy.
I was delighted to read today on the WHO website: 'WHO is championing universal access to credible health information'. https://www.who.int/health-topics/infodemic#tab=tab_2
This is a huge step. In this first message I would like to outline some of the milestones to reaching this point over the past 20 years and more. In a second message I'll invite discussion on what this means in practice and how to take things forward.
1948: WHO Constitution. 'The extension to all peoples of the benefits of medical, psychological and related knowledge is essential to the fullest attainment of health.'
2004: Lancet paper: Can we achieve health information for all by 2015? Godlee F, Pakenham-Walsh N et al. 'We propose that WHO takes the lead in championing the goal of "Universal access to essential health-care information by 2015" or "Health Information for All" https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140673604166816/a...
2006: WHO letter of support for the launch of HIFA. https://www.hifa.org/sites/default/files/other_publications_uploads/Lett...
2019: WHO 13th Programme of Work. ‘WHO’s quintessential function is to ensure access to authoritative and strategic information on matters that affect peoples’ health’. https://www.who.int/about/general-programme-of-work/thirteenth
2020: Royston G, Pakenham-Walsh N, Zielinski C. Universal access to essential health information: accelerating progress towards universal health coverage and other SDG health targets. 'We call on all stakeholders—including governments, multilaterals (WHO, World Bank, UNESCO, UNICEF, International Labour Organization, International Telecommunication Union and others), funding bodies, policy-makers, health professionals and knowledge intermediaries—to work together to accelerate progress towards universal access to essential health information.' https://gh.bmj.com/content/5/5/e002475
2022: HIFA enters into official relations with WHO.
2023: Muscat D et al. Universal health information is essential for universal health coverage. https://fmch.bmj.com/content/11/2/e002090 (This is the first time, to our knowledge, that WHO authors have made this statement)
2024: 'The survey’s central message is for WHO to explicitly champion the goal of universal access to reliable
healthcare information and for WHO and HIFA to convene stakeholders to develop a global strategy' Universal access to reliable healthcare information: A global consultation for the World Health Organization https://www.hifa.org/sites/default/files/articles/HIFA-WHO_report_final.pdf & https://www.hifa.org/sites/default/files/other_publications_uploads/HIFA...
January 2025: '... provide technical input for WHO`s consideration that may inform its work to accelerate progress towards universal access to reliable healthcare information' HIFA-WHO Collaboration Plan 2025-2027. https://publicspace.who.int/sites/GEM/official_relations_details.aspx?id... (This wording was proposed by HIFA and agreed by WHO.)
May 2025: 'We urge WHO to explicitly champion the goal of universal access to reliable healthcare information and convene stakeholders to develop a global strategy for its realisation. We and our partners stand ready to support.' Official statement by HIFA at World Health Assembly https://www.hifa.org/news/hifa-makes-official-statement-78th-world-healt...
October: 2025: Strategic priority: 'Advocate for WHO to champion universal access and convene stakeholders to develop a global strategy to make it a reality'. HIFA Strategy 2025-2027. https://www.hifa.org/sites/default/files/other_publications_uploads/HIFA...
***December 2025: 'WHO is championing universal access to credible health information.'***
https://www.who.int/health-topics/infodemic#tab=tab_2
Best wishes, Neil
HIFA in official relations with WHO: https://www.hifa.org/projects/hifa-official-relations-who
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