Message-ID: <32E15761.3753@akron.infi.net> Date: Sat, 18 Jan 1997 15:06:09 -0800 From: Bob Pyke Jr <mailto:repyke@AKRON.INFI.NET> Subject: [Fwd: HELINA-L: Electronic access to scientific information]FYI To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.--------------16CB5C813644 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
Ronald E. LaPorte from Pittsburgh wrote: >
> -- To the 'mailto:HELINA-L@uku.fi' distribution list
> -- from "Ronald E. LaPorte from Pittsburgh" <mailto:RLAPORTE@vms.cis.pitt.edu>
>
> Friends. We just had a successful Global Health Network meeting at the
> World Bank, lead by Eugene Boostrom from the World Bank. At the meeting
> we became convinced that it is feasible to break down the scientific
> information blockade for developing countries for not only medical
> journals, but also for the hard sciences, social sciences, agriculture,
> etc. Tony Villasenor from NASA has developed the plans for a restricted
> access server which is described below. Moreover, NASA has perhaps the
> best information on connectivity across the world, and Tony has been
> responsible for much of the connectivity in Africa and around the world.
> We can bring his abilities to help us get essential information into
> developing countries. The timing is right as the British Medical Journal
> just published an excellent article on the problems of obtaining
> information in developing countries. Enclosed is a copy of the editorial.
> We are just about to submit for publication a letter to the editor of the
> British Medical Journal. Using this methodology the journals lose almost
> nothing as they can provide their articles for free to developing
> countries who do not buy the journals anyway. The journals that we have
> approached have been very positive. We need to obtain a small amount of
> funding to develop the server, during this time we will approach journals
> to start to have them open up their information to developing countries.
>
> We would appreciate if you could review the letter and give your opinion
> as to the best way to procede.
>
> Jan.1997
>
> Sir:
>
> Patient: Developing Countries
>
> Diagnosis: Information Deficiency
>
> Prescription: An Internet Server with Limited Access
>
> As pointed out in the editorial, the developing world has only limited
> access to information in health. However, this deficiency cuts across all
> sectors including agriculture, education, social sciences, the basic
> sciences, etc. How best can this condition be corrected? It can be
> ameliorated through the Internet.
>
> The optimal way to channel journals into developing countries is
> the Internet. The Internet is rapidly reaching third world nations. All
> of the major health journals are moving onto the Internet. Soon one will
> be able to obtain full text articles through the Internet.at a price.
> However, the price is too high for developing countries. Moreover,
> journals are afraid to put their work onto the Internet, thinking that
> this will be accessible to the world for free and that their paid
> subscription base would go down.
>
> There is a solution: a limited access, country- selective Internet
> server is being developed. Thus the British Medical Journal could permit
> Uganda, Bolivia, and Peru to read the journal on the Internet. A Journal
> of Agricultural Research might permit Mongolia, parts of the Sudan, and
> Liberia to read their journal, and the American Journal of Psychology
> could be open electronically to Mexico, Rwanda, and parts of Poland.
>
> This system is quite secure in that a person in London could not
> go electronically to Rwanda to read Nature for free. Preparation cost
> will be very low, because much of the information is already on line or
> soon will be. This mechanism is just opening up the door to developing
> countries a little bit. It is unlikely to affect journal revenues, as the
> countries selected would be those to which there are few if any
> subscriptions, and little or no hope of future sales. It is flexible, in
> that at any point new countries could be added or subtracted and the
> selection of information can be changed on the basis of what articles are
> called up by people in developing countries. Finally, and most important,
> it is humane.
>
> The Global Health Network has already contacted certain Journals
> in health, and 10 have expressed an interest in "opening the door" to
> developing countries, to start the information in journals flowing. We
> are connecting many countries in Africa, and we have the most up to date,
> and comprehensive data on connectivity. The Global Health Network will
> continue to approach journals in all disciplines to open the door, as for
> the first time in history we have the opportunity to bring up to date
> knowledge into the areas that need it the most.
>
> There is the important decision as to what might be delivered into
> developing countries. One approach would be to have the developed and
> developing countries decide what information might be needed in the
> developing countries. A second would be to put as much information onto
> the computer as now information transport costs are approaching zero. A
> third would be to put everything up, and then look to see which articles
> and journals are accessed, then one decides what areas are of most
> interest to developing countries, and these can be expanded, and perhaps
> those low-usage areas could be dropped. It is likely that researching the
> usage patterns will the best approach for determining the type of
> information of most use to developing countries. This can be readily
> updated as the usage patterns change over time.
>
> The model of the restricted area server is presented below. By
> the end of 1997 essentially all journals will be connected, and the
> information will flow. If you would like to help in this effort, please
> contact a member of the Global Health Network on their home page.
>
> The Global Health Network
> (http://www.pitt.edu/HOME/GHNet/GHNet.html)
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------
> BMJ No 7074 Volume 314
>
> Editorial Saturday 11 January 1997
> ----------------------------------------------------------
>
> Meeting the information needs of health workers in developing countries
>
> A new programme to coordinate and advise
>
> Health workers in the developing world are starved of the information that
> is the lifeblood of effective health care.(1)(2) As a direct result, their
> patients suffer and die. In the words of the late James Grant, former
> executive director of Unicef "The most urgent task before us is to get
> medical and health knowledge to those most in need of that knowledge. Of
> the approximately 50 million people who were dying each year in the late
> 1980s, fully two thirds could have been saved through the application of
> that knowledge."(2)
>
> Providing access to reliable health information for health workers in
> developing countries is potentially the single most cost effective and
> achievable strategy for sustainable improvement in health care. Cost
> effective because the amounts of money required are negligible compared
> with those invested in health services. Achievable because providers of
> health information have the will and commitment to make it happen, and
> because information technology presents exciting new opportunities to
> complement conventional methods of dissemination. And sustainable because
> information access is the sine qua non of the professional development of
> all health workers-the most vital asset of any healthcare system.
>
> In 1994 and 1995 the BMJ hosted international meetings to look for ways to
> improve the dissemination of health information to, from, and within the
> developing world.(1) The meetings showed that the overall impact of
> providing health information would be greatly enhanced by increased
> coordination, analysis, and funding. A new programme was needed to serve
> as a point of reference for those who supply and receive information, to
> build a global picture of their activities and needs, and to argue their
> case with others. This programme is now being introduced within an
> existing non-profit organisation, the International Network for the
> Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP). Founded in 1991 by the
> International Council of Scientific Unions, INASP is a cooperative network
> of providers and recipients of science information, promoting the exchange
> of quality information (both printed and electronic) between and within
> the developed and developing world.
>
> The new programme, INASP-Health, serves three main functions. Firstly, it
> provides a referral and advisory service for information providers and
> potential recipients. For example, institutions seeking health information
> can approach INASP directly and be put in touch with the organisations
> most likely to help. INASP-Health acts as a catalyst for new
> collaborations and initiatives and will soon be launching a dedicated
> email discussion list to facilitate cooperation and debate.
>
> Secondly, INASP-Health aims to build a global picture of health
> information priorities in the developing world and the most appropriate
> ways of addressing them. It is developing a specialised database of needs
> assessments, evaluations of cost effectiveness, and other material related
> to the provision of health information. These data will be made freely
> available to help with the planning and setting up of new programmes, to
> provide support for funding applications, and to help develop future
> strategies.
>
> The third function of INASP-Health is advocacy, both at a specific and a
> general level. For example, it works with organisations such as the
> Association for Health Information and Libraries in Africa (AHILA) to
> promote their needs to a wider audience, negotiating with publishers and
> others on their behalf. On a wider scale, INASP-Health will work
> increasingly with international organisations like the World Health
> Organisation and World Medical Association and with governments and
> funding agencies to promote the development of cost effective strategies
> and to strengthen political and financial commitment
>
> INASP-Health aims,to ensure that the developing world does not get left
> behind by the information revolution. Rather, it wants to harness the
> enormous potential to provide the developing world with the information
> that for too long it has lacked.
>
> Supported by the Overseas Development Administration (UK) and the BMA
>
> Neil Pakenham-Walsh Programme manager, INASP-Health
> Carol Priestley Director
> The International Network for the Availability of
> Scientific Publications
>
> PO Box 2564, London W5 1ZD
>
> Richard Smith Editor, BMJ
>
> London WC1R 9JR
>
> References
>
> 1 Kale R. Health information for the developing world. BMJ
> 1994;309:939-42.
>
> 2 Grant J. Opening session, world summit on medical education, Edinburgh
> 8-12 August 1993. Med Educ 1994; 28(suppl 1):11.
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------
--------------16CB5C813644 Content-Type: message/rfc822 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline
Received: from messi.uku.fi by mh102.infi.net with SMTP (Infinet-S-3.3) id KAA06951; Sat, 18 Jan 1997 10:43:51 -0500 (EST) Return-Path: mailto:owner-helina-l@messi.uku.fi Received: by messi.uku.fi (AIX 3.2/UCB 5.64/4.03) id AA32585; Sat, 18 Jan 1997 14:46:17 GMT Message-Id: <mailto:9701181446.AA32585@messi.uku.fi> Date: Wed, 15 Jan 1997 21:34:28 -0400 (EDT) From: "Ronald E. LaPorte from Pittsburgh" <mailto:RLAPORTE@vms.cis.pitt.edu> To: mailto:HELINA-L@uku.fi Subject: HELINA-L: Electronic access to scientific information Sender: mailto:owner-helina-l@uku.fi Precedence: bulk Reply-To: "Ronald E. LaPorte from Pittsburgh" <mailto:RLAPORTE@vms.cis.pitt.edu> X-UIDL: 8e822614f6dc655d0cd17e949a1af909 X-Mozilla-Status: 0001
-- To the 'mailto:HELINA-L@uku.fi' distribution list -- from "Ronald E. LaPorte from Pittsburgh" <mailto:RLAPORTE@vms.cis.pitt.edu>
Friends. We just had a successful Global Health Network meeting at the World Bank, lead by Eugene Boostrom from the World Bank. At the meeting we became convinced that it is feasible to break down the scientific information blockade for developing countries for not only medical journals, but also for the hard sciences, social sciences, agriculture, etc. Tony Villasenor from NASA has developed the plans for a restricted access server which is described below. Moreover, NASA has perhaps the best information on connectivity across the world, and Tony has been responsible for much of the connectivity in Africa and around the world. We can bring his abilities to help us get essential information into developing countries. The timing is right as the British Medical Journal just published an excellent article on the problems of obtaining information in developing countries. Enclosed is a copy of the editorial. We are just about to submit for publication a letter to the editor of the British Medical Journal. Using this methodology the journals lose almost nothing as they can provide their articles for free to developing countries who do not buy the journals anyway. The journals that we have approached have been very positive. We need to obtain a small amount of funding to develop the server, during this time we will approach journals to start to have them open up their information to developing countries.
We would appreciate if you could review the letter and give your opinion as to the best way to procede.
Jan.1997
Sir:
Patient: Developing Countries
Diagnosis: Information Deficiency
Prescription: An Internet Server with Limited Access
As pointed out in the editorial, the developing world has only limited access to information in health. However, this deficiency cuts across all sectors including agriculture, education, social sciences, the basic sciences, etc. How best can this condition be corrected? It can be ameliorated through the Internet.
The optimal way to channel journals into developing countries is the Internet. The Internet is rapidly reaching third world nations. All of the major health journals are moving onto the Internet. Soon one will be able to obtain full text articles through the Internet.at a price. However, the price is too high for developing countries. Moreover, journals are afraid to put their work onto the Internet, thinking that this will be accessible to the world for free and that their paid subscription base would go down.
There is a solution: a limited access, country- selective Internet server is being developed. Thus the British Medical Journal could permit Uganda, Bolivia, and Peru to read the journal on the Internet. A Journal of Agricultural Research might permit Mongolia, parts of the Sudan, and Liberia to read their journal, and the American Journal of Psychology could be open electronically to Mexico, Rwanda, and parts of Poland.
This system is quite secure in that a person in London could not go electronically to Rwanda to read Nature for free. Preparation cost will be very low, because much of the information is already on line or soon will be. This mechanism is just opening up the door to developing countries a little bit. It is unlikely to affect journal revenues, as the countries selected would be those to which there are few if any subscriptions, and little or no hope of future sales. It is flexible, in that at any point new countries could be added or subtracted and the selection of information can be changed on the basis of what articles are called up by people in developing countries. Finally, and most important, it is humane.
The Global Health Network has already contacted certain Journals in health, and 10 have expressed an interest in "opening the door" to developing countries, to start the information in journals flowing. We are connecting many countries in Africa, and we have the most up to date, and comprehensive data on connectivity. The Global Health Network will continue to approach journals in all disciplines to open the door, as for the first time in history we have the opportunity to bring up to date knowledge into the areas that need it the most.
There is the important decision as to what might be delivered into developing countries. One approach would be to have the developed and developing countries decide what information might be needed in the developing countries. A second would be to put as much information onto the computer as now information transport costs are approaching zero. A third would be to put everything up, and then look to see which articles and journals are accessed, then one decides what areas are of most interest to developing countries, and these can be expanded, and perhaps those low-usage areas could be dropped. It is likely that researching the usage patterns will the best approach for determining the type of information of most use to developing countries. This can be readily updated as the usage patterns change over time.
The model of the restricted area server is presented below. By the end of 1997 essentially all journals will be connected, and the information will flow. If you would like to help in this effort, please contact a member of the Global Health Network on their home page.
The Global Health Network (http://www.pitt.edu/HOME/GHNet/GHNet.html)
---------------------------------------------------------- BMJ No 7074 Volume 314
Editorial Saturday 11 January 1997 ----------------------------------------------------------
Meeting the information needs of health workers in developing countries
A new programme to coordinate and advise
Health workers in the developing world are starved of the information that is the lifeblood of effective health care.(1)(2) As a direct result, their patients suffer and die. In the words of the late James Grant, former executive director of Unicef "The most urgent task before us is to get medical and health knowledge to those most in need of that knowledge. Of the approximately 50 million people who were dying each year in the late 1980s, fully two thirds could have been saved through the application of that knowledge."(2)
Providing access to reliable health information for health workers in developing countries is potentially the single most cost effective and achievable strategy for sustainable improvement in health care. Cost effective because the amounts of money required are negligible compared with those invested in health services. Achievable because providers of health information have the will and commitment to make it happen, and because information technology presents exciting new opportunities to complement conventional methods of dissemination. And sustainable because information access is the sine qua non of the professional development of all health workers-the most vital asset of any healthcare system.
In 1994 and 1995 the BMJ hosted international meetings to look for ways to improve the dissemination of health information to, from, and within the developing world.(1) The meetings showed that the overall impact of providing health information would be greatly enhanced by increased
coordination, analysis, and funding. A new programme was needed to serve as a point of reference for those who supply and receive information, to build a global picture of their activities and needs, and to argue their case with others. This programme is now being introduced within an existing non-profit organisation, the International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP). Founded in 1991 by the International Council of Scientific Unions, INASP is a cooperative network of providers and recipients of science information, promoting the exchange of quality information (both printed and electronic) between and within the developed and developing world.
The new programme, INASP-Health, serves three main functions. Firstly, it provides a referral and advisory service for information providers and potential recipients. For example, institutions seeking health information can approach INASP directly and be put in touch with the organisations most likely to help. INASP-Health acts as a catalyst for new collaborations and initiatives and will soon be launching a dedicated email discussion list to facilitate cooperation and debate.
Secondly, INASP-Health aims to build a global picture of health information priorities in the developing world and the most appropriate ways of addressing them. It is developing a specialised database of needs assessments, evaluations of cost effectiveness, and other material related to the provision of health information. These data will be made freely available to help with the planning and setting up of new programmes, to provide support for funding applications, and to help develop future strategies.
The third function of INASP-Health is advocacy, both at a specific and a general level. For example, it works with organisations such as the Association for Health Information and Libraries in Africa (AHILA) to promote their needs to a wider audience, negotiating with publishers and others on their behalf. On a wider scale, INASP-Health will work increasingly with international organisations like the World Health Organisation and World Medical Association and with governments and funding agencies to promote the development of cost effective strategies and to strengthen political and financial commitment
INASP-Health aims,to ensure that the developing world does not get left behind by the information revolution. Rather, it wants to harness the enormous potential to provide the developing world with the information that for too long it has lacked.
Supported by the Overseas Development Administration (UK) and the BMA
Neil Pakenham-Walsh Programme manager, INASP-Health Carol Priestley Director The International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications
PO Box 2564, London W5 1ZD
Richard Smith Editor, BMJ
London WC1R 9JR
References
1 Kale R. Health information for the developing world. BMJ 1994;309:939-42.
2 Grant J. Opening session, world summit on medical education, Edinburgh 8-12 August 1993. Med Educ 1994; 28(suppl 1):11.
----------------------------------------------------------
--------------16CB5C813644--