The information resources section of the Regional Office and country office web site provides full access to medical and health-related publications and other information products. Health professionals, researchers, policy- and decision-makers, students and the public can download all of WHO's publications for free or order them online. Information resources also offers a wide variety of professional and technical reference and information services covering a broad range of subject areas within the biomedical and public health field.
Improving access to, and availability of, health knowledge is an essential component of WHO technical support for WHO regional office, country offices and field staff, staff from other United Nations and international agencies, ministries of health and other government sectors relevant to health development. Access to knowledge will help all of us in efforts to achieve equitable health for all and the targets of the Millennium Development Goals.
The HINARI Access to Research in Health programme provides developing countries with online access to one of the world's largest collections of biomedical and health literature resources, either free of charge or by affordable subscription.
The Global Health Library provides first-step access to reliable health information in both print and electronic format and other media to those who need it.
The electronic publishing and dissemination of health information products on CD-ROM/DVD enhances equity of access to health information in the Region and elsewhere, in particular, for those countries which still lack adequate internet access.
The Blue Trunk Library is essential for doctors, nurses and all of those working in the field of health to keep their professional knowledge up to date in order to stay abreast of the rapid progress and perpetual changes occurring in this field.
The Red Trunk Library is a library kit containing a wide selection of technical books on topics related to public health and disaster management. The library was developed to be used in emergencies. It is intended to be used in remote areas, providing health staff at all levels with tools to prepare for, and deal with, issues related to public health and emergencies.