The HIFA2015 strategy
The global healthcare knowledge system is not meeting the needs of healthcare providers in resource-poor settings, largely because there is weak communication, understanding and advocacy among those involved in the production, exchange and use of healthcare knowledge. The strategy of HIFA2015 is therefore to promote communication, understanding and advocacy:
The HIFA2015 Strategy: click on the image to read in full size
Note: The section marked ‘ACTION’ represents the global healthcare knowledge system.
HIFA2015 does not itself act as a provider of healthcare information. There is no ‘magic solution’. We believe that a broad, inclusive approach is needed to build on the strengths, and address the weaknesses, of the global healthcare knowledge system as a whole, and its component processes and actors. As with all complex development goals, there is no single magic solution to achieve the HIFA2015 goal. A broad-based approach is needed to realise progressively the human right of evidence-based health care for all.
The HIFA2015 strategy involves three pillars: (1) promoting communication among all stakeholders – health professionals, researchers, librarians, publishers, and others – building a critical mass of ‘change agents’ committed to improve the availability of health information’; (2) collating experience and expertise of stakeholders in the HIFA Knowledge Base, thereby building a collective understanding of information needs of different cadres and ways of meeting those needs; (3) using this understanding to promote advocacy.
1. Communication
Promoting international, regional and national cooperation.
HIFA2015 members represent all those involved in the creation, exchange and use of information: health professionals, producers of reference and learning materials, librarians, technologists, researchers, policymakers, and the general public. Members interact via two email discussions forums: HIFA2015 and CHILD2015
2. Understanding
Building a picture of information needs and how to meet them
HIFA2015 members are developing the HIFA2015 Knowledge Base: a web-based resource specifically about information needs and different methods of meeting them.
3. Advocacy
Seeking and promoting sustainable solutions
HIFA2015 members are identifying evidence-based solutions to address the information and learning needs of healthcare providers. And we are promoting the political and financial commitment needed to support information and learning initiatives worldwide.
Throughout, HIFA2015 members are actively engaged in defining the campaign strategy, as described in the HIFA2015 Foundation Document (PDF, 353kb).
