HEN – the Health Evidence Network – is an information service for public health decision-makers in the WHO European Region, initiated and coordinated by the WHO Regional Office for Europe. It constitutes a single point of access to the best available public health evidence and information.

HEN provides:

• responses to support the decision-making process: up-to-date summaries highlight what is known, indicate gaps in evidence and information, and underscore key areas of debate, including trends and policy options;
• easy access to evidence and information from a number of websites, databases, documents and networks of experts: these resources are carefully selected and their focus and content described.

Evidence in HEN includes findings from research and other important information relevant to decision-makers in public health. Research findings include, for example, the results of randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews. Other important information comes from case studies, reports, experiences and observational studies. HEN interprets the evidence in light of its context, taking into account that what works in one country may or may not work in another.

HEN commissions experts to research and write responses to questions selected among those received from decision-makers throughout the WHO European Region. The responses are evidence based, peer reviewed and periodically updated. HEN works in collaboration with agencies and organizations across the European Region, including the European Commission, and throughout the United Nations system.