Knowledge
Knowledge can be explicit (derived from research, surveillance and published in journals, for example) or tacit (derived from experience). Innovation from practice and learning in context are important to bring about solutions to health problems. Having access to the world's health information and sharing experience are essential for well-functioning health systems. Knowledge in itself, however, is not enough. Many of the solutions to the world’s health problems are known but are not applied, leading to what is called the know-do gap: the gap between what is known and what gets done in practice.
Bridging the know-do gap in health, by fostering environments that encourage the creation, sharing, and effective application of knowledge, is vital. Drugs, vaccines and medical devices will have little effect on health unless people know how to use them correctly. Entrepreneurship, good management and information technology can facilitate access to information and knowledge translation into policy and practice.
Knowledge Helpful resources
- WHO Knowledge Management and Sharing
- Global e-Health Observatory
- Health Evidence Network
- Global Health Library
- Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde
- Health InterNetwork Access to Research Initiative (HINARI)
- WHO Collaborating Centres
- WHO Library
- Virtual Campus of Public health (in Spanish)
- WHO Press
- World Health Report
- Bulletin of the WHO
- Global Health Histories
- Knowledge Platforms in Clinical Care