BMJ 2001;323:65 ( 14 July )

News

Deal allows developing countries free access to journals

Zosia Kmietowicz, London

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Six of the world's leading medical publishers have joined forces in a unique venture in which they have put profits aside to enable more than 100 of the poorest countries in the world to access vital scientific information free of charge through the internet.

The BMJ's editor, Dr Richard Smith, described the arrangement, which is scheduled to start in January 2002, as "momentous" and one that will "completely transform the environment" in which health professionals, researchers, and policymakers in the developing world work.

Overseeing the signing of the "statement of intent" by senior executives of the publishers, Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland, director general of the World Health Organization (WHO), said: "As a direct result of this arrangement, many thousands of doctors, researchers, and health policymakers, among others, will be able to use the best available scientific evidence to an unprecedented degree to help them improve the health of their populations. It is . . . [Full text of this article]

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    StumbleUpon    Technorati    What's this?

Relevant Articles

Medical editors pledge support for African journals

Tessa Richards
BMJ 2002 325: 922. [Extract] [Full Text]

Medical journals can reduce global health inequity, conference told

Alex Vass
BMJ 2002 324: 444. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Free supply of knowledge is good for developing countries

K S Parthasarathy
BMJ 2001 323: 810. [Extract] [Full Text]

Health information for the developing world: from desert to garden
BMJ 2001 323: 0. [Full Text] [PDF]

Health information for the developing world: from desert to garden
BMJ 2001 323: 0. [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Smith, R. (2003). Closing the digital divide. BMJ 326: 238-238 [Full text]  
• Smith, R., Williamson, A. (2002). BMJ journals free to the developing world. BMJ 324: 380-380 [Full text]  
• (2002). Now free for the 100 poorest countries. Qual Saf Health Care 11: 201-201 [Full text]  
• Parthasarathy, K S (2001). Free supply of knowledge is good for developing countries. BMJ 323: 810-810 [Full text]  
• Williamson, A, Moss, F (2001). Getting journals rapidly to developing countries: opportunities through the internet. Qual Saf Health Care 10: 133-134 [Full text]  

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Wonderful effect, no sacrifice

Barry Markovitz
bmj.com, 15 Jul 2001 [Full text]

A goal for science and society

J Mario Castrillon
bmj.com, 17 Jul 2001 [Full text]

Appreciate the announcement

C Jayakumar
bmj.com, 17 Jul 2001 [Full text]

This is great

Frances Owusu-Daaku
bmj.com, 17 Jul 2001 [Full text]

Finally, the poor get a break

Hikmat Fikrat
bmj.com, 19 Jul 2001 [Full text]

THIS IS A GOOD BEGINING

Ruchita Khurana
bmj.com, 19 Jul 2001 [Full text]

A great beginning; how can we do more?

Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta
bmj.com, 19 Jul 2001 [Full text]

A wonderful gift

Vijaya Jaiswal
bmj.com, 19 Jul 2001 [Full text]

A landmark decision in real North South cooperation

A P R Aluwihare
bmj.com, 20 Jul 2001 [Full text]

Full Public Access to a public resource

Ninan Chacko
bmj.com, 21 Jul 2001 [Full text]

Delivery of free journal access without infrastructure!

Joe Hovel
bmj.com, 6 Aug 2001 [Full text]

At Last a Ray of Hope

Nishith Chandra
bmj.com, 6 Aug 2001 [Full text]

Great ! What is the procedure ?

Ashvin Patel
bmj.com, 11 Aug 2001 [Full text]

Online poll

Find out more>>