World Health Report 2012
The achievement of universal and equitable access to healthcare, of health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and of other health goals is more likely to be realized through research and the use of research in informing health policies. Unfortunately, the reality is that research on critical topics is lacking, and health policies are often not well-informed by research evidence. Poorly-informed decision making, coupled with a lack of trust in research, are some of the reasons why services sometimes fail to reach those most in need, why health indicators may be off-track and why many countries are unlikely to meet the health MDGs. The World Health Report 2012 will justify that research does help, and that research is essential to improve health outcomes.
Overview
The World Health Report, first published in 1995, is WHO's leading publication. Each year, the report includes an expert assessment of a specific global health topic, oftentimes relating to all countries. The main purpose of the report is to provide policymakers, donor agencies, international organizations and others with the information they need to help them make appropriate policy and funding decisions. However, the report is also accessible to a wider audience, such as universities, journalists and the public at large. It is expected that anyone, with a professional or personal interest in international health issues, will be able to read and take use of it.
Research for Health
Under the theme Research for Health, The World Health Report 2012 will be the first World Health Report to discuss the impact of health research. The theme was selected in part to meet WHO's core function of "stimulating the generation, translation and dissemination of valuable knowledge." This is to promote effective and efficient policy options. Over the last few years, there has been a sustained effort at the international level to encourage research initiatives and knowledge to action practices in public health. One landmark effort is the 2005 World Health Assembly Resolution 58.34, which called upon WHO member states to “establish or strengthen mechanisms to transfer knowledge in support of…. evidence-based health-related policies.” This resolution was further emphasized in the Bamako Call to Action, which urged governments to allocate at least 2% of budgets of ministries of health to research and to earmark at least 5% of funding for research, including support for knowledge translation practices. The World Health Report 2012 will further highlight the significance of conducting and translating health research to help promote healthy behaviors.
The Objectives
We aim to develop:
"An enticing, new, timely, and original report which people will not be able to put down"
(Margaret Chan, Director General of WHO, May 6, 2010)
The Report will be accessible to all and it will demystify research across a broad spectrum of society interested in improving healthcare globally. It will allow everyone to see their place in producing and using research, and send a message that research helps - and serves the core business of all actors in health.
It will be of practical value to the Member States as it will emphasize that research is the foundation of policy and that it is not a luxury - in times of financial crisis and competing priorities, research is even more critical. It will show that investing in quality research improves efficiency and yields returns to the economy. Therefore, it will send a message to Member States that research must be supported, promoted and strengthened in their countries.
The Report will be outward and forward-looking with regards to the continued role of research and knowledge in improving health and health equity, especially in the developing world.
Justification and Relevance
• Increasing interest and awareness of the importance of evidence to inform decision-and policy-making, and for evaluating the impact of public health initiatives and programmes; (e.g. the Bamako Ministerial Call for Action, the Global Strategy and Plan of Action, WHO's Research for Health Strategy and the First Global Symposium on Health Systems Research) • Current and emerging global health challenges which require sound science on which to base appropriate responses (e.g. achieving MDGs, emerging infectious diseases, chronic diseases, health impacts of climate change, antimicrobial resistance, etc); • Lack of trust in research among the broader public, concerns about ethics, accountability and transparency; • Non-scientists find the benefits of various types of research difficult to grasp either because of technical complexity or because it is too far removed from the benefits.
The Power of Stories
"Analysis might excite the mind, but it hardly offers a route to the heart - and that's where we must go to motivate people" (Stephen Denning, Former Director of Knowledge Management, The World Bank)
The Report proposes to utilize the power of stories to get across the key messages. In addition to the traditional launch of a printed Report, additional and innovative means of dissemination and communication will be explored. An online call for inputs can be found below and other calls will follow soon. This will make this the first WHO report developed openly and transparently with input from the public.
Target Audience
Due to the wide spectrum of health research issues that will be explored, the report aims to target a wide audience. The primary target audience, however, includes the general public, policy makers, health care managers, frontline health workers, civil society, funding agency leaders, and the mainstream media. Moreover, the report's secondary audience includes researchers, health care professionals, WHO staff, industry/private sector, patients, and their families.