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HIF12: Review and way forward

Venue: British Medical Association, Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9JR

Date: Thursday 6 July 2000

Chair: Andy Haines, Professor of Primary Care at the Royal Free and University College Medical Schools

Participants:

Bill Posnett, 3WD Bibliographic Information

Syed Naqui, Aga Khan University

Elizabeth Mbatia, African Medical Research Foundation

John Hudson, BMA Books

Richard Smith, BMJ

Viola Artikova, BMJ - Reuter scholarship

Harry McConnell, BMJ Publishing Group

Manjit Kaur (minutes), ECHO International

Philippa Saunders, Essential Drugs Project

Eileen Gillow, Educational Low-Priced Sponsored Texts

Barbara Kirsop, Educational Publishing Trust

Chris Zielinski, Health Information for Development

Andrew Chetley, Healthlink Worldwide

David Curtis, Healthlink Worldwide

Roger Drew, Healthlink Worldwide

Stewart Britten, HealthProm

Neil Pakenham-Walsh, INASP

Pru Watts-Russell, INASP

Sarah Dutton, Independent

Lucilda Hunter, Independent

George Enyakoit, Institute of Neurology, London

Maria Musoke, Makerere University, Uganda

Frank Norman, National Institute for Medical Research

Elliott Siegell, National Library of Medicine

Jean Shaw (minutes), Partnerships in Health Information

Jean Roberts, Phoenix Independent Consultants

David Lane, Royal College of Nursing

Andrew Haines, Royal Free and Univ Coll London

Fred Bukachi, SatelLife Healthnet Kenya

Gerry Dingley, TALC

David Morley, TALC

Mary Tamplin, TALMILEP

Randal Franzen, Teton Data Systems - STAT!Ref

Robert Cheshier, Third World Books

Lenny Rhine, University of Florida

Rosamaria Rotolo, University of Torino, Italy

Christine Kanyengo, University of Zambia

Helga Patrikios, University of Zimbabwe

Chris Coyer, Wellcome Trust

Irene Bertrand, WHO

David Bramley, WHO

Sarah Clark, WHO

Amanda Marlin, WHO

Margaret Matthai, WHO Regional Office for Africa

Opening comments

Neil Pakenham-Walsh welcomed Professor Andy Haines and congratulated him on his recent appointment as the next Dean of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

1. REVIEW (Neil Pakenham-Walsh)

As an activity of the INASP-Health programme, HIF has become the leading focal point for dialogue and exchange of experience and ideas among UK-based organizations involved in improving access to reliable information for healthcare workers. It is the only activity of its kind worldwide and is fast gaining international recognition.

HIF has completed a total of 12 popular workshops, with increasing numbers of participants at successive meetings; engaged support and participation from the British Medical Association, Royal College of Physicians, World Health Organization, and others; and attracted several guest speakers from international agencies and developing countries.

HIF has served as a tool to facilitate the evolution of structured cooperation between WHO and other health information organizations, to `identify and deliver measurable outcomes' that will have a significant impact on access to health information. A questionnaire survey of HIF participants has been conducted to identify areas for collaboration between WHO and specific organizations. The new email discussion list 'HIF-net at WHO' is being launched on July 10th as a joint venture with WHO. (All with an interest in access to health information are welcome to participate. Contact < [email protected] >.)

HIF has spawned two Action Groups. The Staging Posts Action Group provided a neutral space for a diverse range of professionals to focus on and identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats associated with a major health information project (Information Waystations and Staging Posts). The Evaluation Action Group focuses on a vital and complex area that affects us all: monitoring and evaluation of health information activities.

HIF participants have contributed to the development of the DFID-funded Health Communications Partnership, whose aims include strengthening of existing networks (including INASP-Health), strengthening links between HIF (`health information for healthcare workers') and others in the health communications sector (`health communications for the general public'), and encouraging further internationalization of debate on health information issues.

THE WAY FORWARD

The output of the small group and plenary discussions fell into 10 broad themes:

1. 'More of the same'
2. Extend participation
3. Promote HIF-like groups
4. Organize multidisciplinary international conference
5. Extend mapping process
6. Collective advocacy on key issues
7. Quality assurance
8. Themes for future meetings
9. Fundraising
10. Evaluation

1. 'More of the same'

HIF's overall success was acknowledged. Its current activities were considered valuable since they have a networking and catalytic role, which has been beneficial to participants. The need for continuing with regular meetings was reaffirmed as a means of exchanging information, promoting awareness, and facilitating links and partnerships.

2. Extend participation

Extend participation with international bodies.

An expansion of participating bodies and individuals would encourage cross-fertilization of ideas and a reduction in duplication. Contacts mentioned were: the International Council of Nurses, the Medical Library Association International Group, and the National Library of Medicine. Building on current activities through increased internationalization was considered a priority.

Greater participation from developing and transitional countries is needed in particular. It is essential that HIF participants build further dialogue with individuals and groups in those countries. The new email discussion list `HIF-net at WHO' can serve as a tool for this. Funds should be sought to enable participants from developing countries to attend HIF meetings.

Increased participation is needed from UK-based groups outside the London area. The distance of travel from other parts of the UK was recognized as a barrier to participation in meetings. Teleconferencing of Forum activities across the UK (and worldwide – see below) might be an increasingly available option to address this in the future.

3. Promote `HIF-like groups' in developing and transitional countries

There was a strong call for INASP-Health to promote local/national/regional HIF-like groups in developing and transitional countries. Such a group was reported to have emerged already in Kenya. These groups should be actively identified and promoted, and communication links developed with and among them. `HIF-Net at WHO' could serve as an initial tool for this, and for exchanging reports and perspectives among groups. Teleconferencing might be a way of allowing more active participation by such groups.

4. Organize a multidisciplinary international conference

The possibility of a multidisciplinary international conference, perhaps in 2002, should be explored. This would be a 'total concept conference', probably held in a developing country, with an exhibition, seminar, and training opportunities – as well as a strategic agenda with participation from international agencies. In the meantime, opportunities should be sought to link with other conferences in related areas, e.g. MedInfo 2001.

5. Extend the current mapping process

Mapping of health information activities is a central activity of INASP-Health (eg INASP-Health Directory). Further mapping would be valuable, using existing and new information and including resources, projects, and contacts. `HIF-Net at WHO' could be a useful vehicle for gaining knowledge about HIF participants, so facilitating the exchange of expertise. (New subscribers to `HIF-net at WHO' are requested to supply a `HIF participant profile', which briefly outlines their interest in health information.)

A related suggestion was to `analyse the existing information flow' `South to South' and `South to North', as well as `North to South'.

6. Collective advocacy on key issues

It was generally recognized that we should raise awareness of the value of health information, and the evidence of the need for it in developing countries. This should emphasize the importance of stimulating demand for good, reliable information and using information resources effectively.

The combined knowledge and energy of the group was recognized to have a powerful potential for the promotion of health information - to governments, NGOs, business, and foundations, providing a body of shared expertise and experience through its various activities. Specific suggestions included making presentations at the meetings of the Medical School Deans (in Africa) and Commonwealth Ministers of Health.

A HIF Action Group might be set up to examine ways of raising the profile of health information.

7. Quality assurance

HIF participants might play a more proactive role in monitoring information for 'fitness of purpose', for example, helping develop 'tools' for validating information. Electronic information - the analysis and development of quality assurance is vital to good health care. It is important to find out what is available and reliable. This may be supply driven but could be demand assessed.

8. Fundraising

INASP-Health should attract more funding for HIF activities and its other supporting activities, from a wider range of donors.

Practical workshops, such as the 1-day `Fundraising for health information organizations' workshop planned for October at the BMA, might be a way of generating small amounts of funds.

When preparing financial reports, INASP-Health could consider taking into account the 'in kind' costs (in particular, pricing of participants' time contributions in monetary terms).

9. Evaluation

INASP-Health should build in milestones to measure its successes. `HIF-Net at WHO' should be monitored. HIF should identify and develop 'measurable outcomes' and successes such as the 'WHO-HIF collaborating group', and formation of action groups.

At the close of the meeting, Neil Pakenham-Walsh thanked Richard Smith (Editor, BMJ), Carol Priestley (Director, INASP), WHO representatives, the HIF Organizing Group, and all participants for their support and contributions over the first 2 years of HIF.

Acknowledgement: Our thanks as always to the British Medical Association for providing free meeting room facilities. And to Randal Franzen and STAT!Ref for sponsoring the HIF Summer Party after the meeting. Thanks also for the participation and valuable input of the many participants from developing and transitional countries. Your contributions are, and will always be, vital to the successful development of all health information initiatives.

The Health Information Forum is run as an activity of INASP-Health, a cooperative network for organizations and individuals working to improve access to reliable information for healthcare workers in developing and transitional countries. Participation is free of charge and without obligation. INASP-Health activities are supported by the BMA, Danida, ICSU-Press, and WHO. INASP is a programme of the International Council for Science (ICSU).