Health Evidence Network (HEN)

Recognizing that public health, health care and health systems policy-makers need access to timely, independent and reliable health information for decision-making, WHO/Europe started HEN in 2003. It acts as a platform, providing evidence in multiple formats to help decision-making.

HEN sources of evidence database

As the large quantity of information and evidence available in the field of public health is dispersed among many databases and other sources, HEN provides easy access to a number of resources in a single location, through its sources of evidence database.

HEN reports and summaries

HEN produces a variety of publications to meet policy-makers’ needs:

  • evidence reports synthesizing the best available evidence in response to policy-makers’ questions;
  • joint policy briefs and policy summaries, produced with the European Observatory on Health Systems and Polices, which synthesize the evidence around specific policy options for tackling key health system issues; and
  • HEN summaries of reports, including synopses of the main findings and policy options.

Resource group

As an alliance of organizations or institutions promoting the use of evidence in health policy or health technology assessment, HEN has access to experts across the Region who provide advice and assistance.