E-DRUG: WHO Essential Medicines Information Portal
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Dear Colleagues
I have recently had the opportunity to learn more about the WHO online
document information system and some of the changes that have taken
place recently. Some of you may also have become aware of them if you
have recently visited and/or used it.
http://apps.who.int/medicinedocs/en/
In addition to the new interface and search functions (full text search,
keyword search), you might be interested to learn the following:
- Essential medicines documents are now combined with those on other
health technologies in line with restructuring taking place within WHO
- Non-WHO publications are starting to be included in the database -
these can include journal articles, reports from other organizations and
other books where permitted by copyright.
- Certain partner organizations are making their materials available
through the database. At the moment these include MSH, USAID, World
Bank and UNICEF but this is likely to broaden in the future.
Thus it is possible to search for documents and find MSF reports, BMJ
articles, ICDRA meeting reports, chapters from 'Managing Drug Supply"
and more - not just WHO documents. All documents are available in
full-text as pdf files.
The system is still having some teething problems with the search
function (rather use the Advanced Search at present rather than the
general search box) and the addition of non-WHO documents to the
database is still at an early stage (although already substantial) but I
find this a very useful move to increase access to key documents on
essential medicines (and other health technologies) by making them
available in one place.
WHO will probably officially announce this development in due course,
but I was sufficiently impressed at the potential to write this message
and encourage you to visit the information portal if you have not done
so recently.
--
Douglas Ball
E-Drug co-moderator