Cochrane, a global independent network of researchers, professionals, patients, carers, and people interested in health, has joined forces with JBI, Campbell Collaboration, GIN, the Institute for Evidence-Based Healthcare, the Centre for Evidence-based Health Care, and NICE to launch the 2023 campaign for World Evidence-Based Healthcare (EBHC) Day. Titled 'Evidence and Global Health Equity', this campaign highlights the pressing need to advance global health equity and advocates for a paradigm shift in evidence generation and utilization.
World EBHC Day, observed annually on October 20th, serves as a global initiative to raise awareness about the critical role of evidence in shaping healthcare policies, practices, and decision-making, ultimately improving health outcomes worldwide. The event provides a platform for engaging in meaningful discussions on global trends and challenges while recognizing the contributions of researchers, policymakers, and healthcare professionals who tirelessly work towards improving health outcomes.
The 2023 campaign aims to explore how the global evidence community can foster equity within evidence ecosystems and drive progress towards global health equity, aligning with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. As the midpoint for the 2030 goals approaches, the world faces multiple crises, including humanitarian disasters, climate change, and health pandemics, which hamper progress and exacerbate health inequities. Strengthening local and global evidence ecosystems becomes increasingly urgent in addressing these challenges.
The campaign has invited Health Information for All (HIFA), E-Base Africa, International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie), The George Institute for Global Health, and University of Global Health Equity as campaign partners for 2023. These partners bring their unique expertise, knowledge, and resources to strengthen the campaign, 'Evidence and Global Health Equity'.
The 2023 campaign calls for concrete actions to embed equity within evidence-informed decision-making. It emphasizes the importance of collaboration, information sharing, and networking to increase access to research evidence. Furthermore, it highlights the need for integrated systems that prioritize equity, inclusivity, and multisectoral participation from all actors.
The global evidence community is encouraged to contribute to the campaign by submitting blogs or vlogs for publication on the World Evidence-Based Healthcare Day website or organizing events to share experiences and collective wisdom on fostering equity-centered evidence-informed decision-making and strengthening evidence ecosystems.
World Evidence-Based Healthcare Day stands as a catalyst for change, uniting organizations and individuals around the globe to advocate for evidence-based approaches that drive progress towards global health equity. By fostering collaboration and emphasizing the crucial role of evidence in decision-making, the campaign aims to transform healthcare systems, ensuring equal access to quality care for all.
Click here to read the original press release.
