Promoting Health Care through the Dissemination of High Quality Knowledge and Information in the Western Pacific Region

2010-05-27

WPRIM - the Western Pacific Region Index Medicus - is an online index of medical and health journals published in Region, which can be accessed on the Internet, thus ensuring global accessibility of medical and health research done in the Region.

The Institute for Medical Information Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (IMICAMS) with the cooperation of the World Health Organization Regional Office for the Western Pacific (WHO WPRO) hosted the launch of the new Western Pacific Region Index Medicus (WPRIM) database at the Shanghai Hall of the Xinhaijinjiang Hotel, Beijing, China on 7 May 2010.

Distinguished guests who attended the launch ceremony and delivered speeches were Mr Feng Yong of the Division of International Cooperation, Ministry of Health China; Dr Liu Depei, President of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College; Prof Yuan Haibo, Director of the National Science and Technology Library; Dr Michael O'Leary, WHO Representative in China and Dr Najeeb Al-Shorbaji, Director of Knowledge Management and Sharing, WHO Headquarters. Also, present were Mr You Suning, Director of the Chinese Medical Association Publishing House and representatives of WPRIM National Journal Selection Committee (NJSC) such as Dr Kiichiro Tsutani (Japan), Dr John Arokiasamy (Malaysia), Prof Pagbajabyn Nymadawa (Mongolia), Ms Merlita Opena (Philippines) and Dr Jeong Wook Seo (Republic of Korea). They delivered short addresses to cite the value and importance of the WPRIM database in their countries. Journal editors of biomedical and health publications in China, officers and board of directors of the Asia Pacific Association of Medical Journal Editors (APAME), representatives from the WHO Office in China, and officials and staff of IMICAMS also attended.

During the ceremony, there is a symbolic lighting of the WPRIM globe, which represents that the database is now ready for access in the World Wide Web followed by a short video presentation on the history and important milestones of the project from 2006 to present.

(from left to right: Prof Dai Tao, Dr Liu Depei, Mr Charles Raby, Dr Najeeb Al-Shorbaji, Dr Michael O'Leary, Prof Yuan Haibo and Mr Feng Yong during the symbolic lighting of the WPRIM globe)

Another highlight of the program is the presentation of commemorative plaques to remember the event. Prof Chang Kok Hahm, President of the Asia Pacific Association of Medical Journal Editors awarded the plaques to Prof Dai Tao, Director of IMI and Mr Charles Raby, Responsible Officer for the WPRIM Project in WPRO.

(APAME President Prof Chang Kok Hahm, presented the commemorative plaque to Prof Dai Tao, Director of IMI)

he WPRIM platform developed by IMICAMS in collaboration with WHO WPRO and initial contributing Member States such as China, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore and Vietnam aims to continue the promotion of knowledge sharing and access to reliable health research information in the Western Pacific Region.