The Global Health Library increases access to information and scientific evidence on health, particularly in developing regions. The library was developed by WHO headquarters and BIREME of the Pan American Health Organization, in collaboration with WHO regional offices as part of WHO's strategy for knowledge management and sharing in global public health.

The Global Health Library narrows the knowledge divide between developed and developing countries and enhances sharing and transfer of knowledge. It provides an international platform and virtual space for collection, organization, dissemination and access to reliable health sciences information sources and for sharing and networking between communities in different languages and formats.

Regions and Member States can freely establish and manage their own decentralized Global Health Library portals. Ministries of health and national institutions can develop and improve their national networks for knowledge management and sharing through the library.

The networked approach avoids duplication of existing or new initiatives in the provision of health sciences information and creates a global space to promote and link mainstream, regional, national and local health information.

Global Health Library