Health
THE World Health Organization (WHO) has marked the 25th anniversary of Research4Life, a public-private partnership providing free or affordable access to scientific knowledge for researchers and institutions across more than 120 countries worldwide.
WHO said in a statement on Tuesday that the initiative had significantly improved access to scientific publications for researchers, educators, health professionals and policymakers, strengthening research capacity and evidence-based decision-making globally.
The organisation said that Research4Life, inaugurated in 2001 as a three-year pilot project led by WHO, had grown into one of the world’s largest and longest-running partnerships promoting equitable access to scientific research.
According to WHO, independent studies show the programme increased research publishing by up to 75 per cent and boosted participation in international clinical trials by more than 20 per cent.
The organisation added that the studies found Research4Life strengthened opportunities for women researchers, with publication rates rising by up to 30 per cent in countries facing the greatest barriers.
WHO Chief Scientist, Dr Sylvie Briand, said the initiative, established to bridge the global health knowledge gap, had evolved into a worldwide movement advancing research equity and scientific collaboration globally.
She said Research4Life had enabled researchers, educators, health professionals and policymakers to access scientific evidence needed to improve lives, support sustainable development and strengthen knowledge-driven responses to challenges.
According to Briand, the partnership has expanded from six publishing partners at inauguration to more than 185 publishers and partner organisations, significantly broadening access to scientific resources worldwide.
“The programme now provides more than 12,000 institutions in eligible countries with access to more than 250,000 journals, books and research databases from leading publishers and scientific organisations.
“Beyond providing access to publications, WHO said Research4Life now supports researchers through training, publishing assistance and collaborative initiatives that strengthen research capacity and scientific participation.
“The organisation noted that these efforts have helped researchers develop the skills, networks and opportunities needed to produce, publish and share high-quality scientific research,” she said.
Briand said Research4Life’s 2030 Strategy would focus on addressing barriers such as article processing charges and other publishing costs, ensuring researchers worldwide could access and contribute to scientific knowledge.(NAN)
A.I
July 21, 2026
Tags: Dr Sylvie Briand WHO