Bulletin of the World Health Organization

Bulletin of the World Health Organization is a peer-reviewed international journal published by the World Health Organization that focuses on public health research, policy analysis, and global health practice. The Bulletin serves as a platform for authors from institutions such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, University of Oxford, Harvard University, Johns Hopkins University, and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine to report on disease control, health systems, epidemiology, and health policy. It interfaces with initiatives led by United Nations, World Bank, GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and regional offices like the Pan American Health Organization and World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe.

History

The Bulletin was established in 1948 during the founding era of the United Nations system alongside formative agencies such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the International Labour Organization, reflecting post‑war priorities exemplified by conferences like the Bretton Woods Conference and treaties such as the UN Charter. Early editorial contributors included professionals associated with the Rockefeller Foundation, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and the Karolinska Institute, while coverage frequently intersected with global responses to events like the 1957–1958 influenza pandemic and the Smallpox eradication campaign. Over subsequent decades the Bulletin documented milestones linked to programs such as Expanded Programme on Immunization, the Alma-Ata Declaration, and the International Health Regulations, adapting its remit through crises including the HIV/AIDS pandemic, the Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa (2014–2016), and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Scope and Content

The Bulletin publishes research articles, policy analyses, viewpoints, systematic reviews, and case studies addressing topics ranging from infectious diseases like tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV/AIDS to noncommunicable conditions exemplified by hypertension and diabetes in settings influenced by actors like Médecins Sans Frontières, International Committee of the Red Cross, and national agencies such as the Ministry of Health (Brazil), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (India), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Content often evaluates interventions tied to programs like Expanded Programme on Immunization, partnerships including GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance and The Global Fund, and surveillance networks such as the Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System. The Bulletin also features methodological pieces relevant to organizations such as the World Bank and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, and reports linked to conferences like the World Health Assembly and summits such as the UN High-level Meeting on Universal Health Coverage.

Editorial Policy and Peer Review

Editorial oversight is provided by WHO-appointed editors in collaboration with editorial boards that have included scholars from institutions like Imperial College London, University of Cambridge, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, National Institutes of Health, and the Pasteur Institute. The journal enforces policies on research ethics reflecting standards promulgated by bodies such as the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences and trial registration requirements akin to registries like ClinicalTrials.gov and the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. Peer review is external and uses reviewers drawn from networks including the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, African Union, and academia at universities such as McGill University and University of Cape Town, with editorial decisions guided by statements from committees like the Committee on Publication Ethics.

Publication and Access

Published monthly by the World Health Organization, the Bulletin is distributed electronically and in print, with an open access policy that aligns with declarations such as the Budapest Open Access Initiative and frameworks promoted by funders including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Wellcome Trust. Digital archiving involves partnerships with repositories and libraries including the United States National Library of Medicine, the British Library, and university libraries at Harvard University and University of Toronto. Special issues and supplements have been issued in collaboration with entities like UNAIDS, UNICEF, and the Pan American Health Organization and are indexed in databases such as MEDLINE and Scopus.

Impact and Reception

The Bulletin has influenced policy debates and guidelines issued by agencies including the World Health Organization, UNICEF, World Bank, European Commission, and national health ministries such as those of South Africa and Japan. Its articles have been cited in landmark reports by commissions like the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery, reviews in journals such as The Lancet and BMJ, and assessments by bodies like the Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee for health emergencies. Reception has ranged from commendation by advocates for universal health coverage and researchers at institutions like Columbia University to critique in fora involving stakeholders such as physicians' associations and parliamentary health committees in countries including Canada and France.

Category:World Health Organization journals Category:Public health journals Category:Open access journals