PHA-Exch> Lack of healthcare information threatens patient safety, say leading health agencies

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: Neil Pakenham-Walsh neil.pakenham-walsh at ghi-net.org


PRESS RELEASE: Lack of healthcare information threatens patient safety, say
leading health agencies

11th February 2009

For immediate release

Global campaign 'Healthcare Information for All by 2015' (HIFA2015) today
announced its Annual Challenge for 2009: Addressing the information needs of
nurses and midwives in low-income settings. The 2009 Challenge will bring
together thousands of nurses, midwives, publishers and librarians to work
out ways to improve the quality and availability of information for nurses
and midwives in developing countries. Their common goal is: By 2015, every
nurse and midwife will have access to the information they need to learn, to
diagnose, to provide appropriate care and treatment, and to save lives.

The 2009 Challenge group is supported by the British Medical Association,
Global Alliance for Nursing and Midwifery, International Confederation of
Midwives, International Council of Nurses, Midwives Information and Resource
Service, Royal College of Midwives, Royal College of Nursing, and the World
Health Organization. Together they are calling for relevant, reliable
healthcare information to be made more easily accessible to nurses and
midwives in the developing world.

Dr Jean Yan, Coordinator of Health Professions Networks and Chief Scientist,
Nursing and Midwifery, at the World Health Organization, Geneva, declared:
"Nurses and midwives, as the largest group of healthcare providers, are
often the first point of contact for individuals and communities most in
need. The collaboration between the World Health Organization, HIFA2015 and
our partners will improve access and exchange of high quality,
evidence-based and appropriate knowledge for nurses and midwives worldwide.
The WHO Office of Nursing and Midwifery supports the 2009 Challenge in
achieving this common goal."

David Benton, Chief Executive Officer, International Council of Nurses
(ICN), highlighted that "lack of accurate and current health information is
a serious threat to patient safety and quality of care. ICN is determined to
address this through initiatives such as the ICN Nursing Mobile Library. I
call on all partners to join in reaching the world's nurses and midwives
with current health information."

Jackie Cheeseborough, Learning & Development Manager for Information &
Knowledge Management at the Royal College of Nursing of the UK added: "Good
quality, up to date, relevant evidence is essential for improving patient
care, and that is why the RCN is giving its full support to this important
campaign. Our own survey shows that if health practitioners have access to
information they will use it to bring about change."

Cathy Warwick, General Secretary of the Royal College of Midwives (UK) said:
"Information gives midwives and other health workers power; the power to
stop women and babies dying needlessly. This is very valuable work that will
make a major and life-saving difference to women and babies across the
world, and I am delighted to be supporting this collaborative effort."

Neil Pakenham-Walsh, Coordinator of the HIFA2015 campaign said: "HIFA2015 is
raising awareness of this vital issue, thereby improving the provision of
health information, and improving health outcomes. We call on governments
and funding agencies to support efforts to meet the needs of nurses and
midwives so that people do not die because of a simple lack of basic
healthcare information. And we call on individuals to join us via our
website: www.hifa2015.org"

HIFA 2009 Challenge: The scale of the crisis: evidence and statistics (PDF
742kb)
http://www.hifa2015.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/hifa-2009-challenge-dossier-v21.pdf

Notes for editors (PDF 24kb)
http://www.hifa2015.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/notes-for-editors.pdf
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