Cochrane is delighted to announce the official launch of Cochrane Argentina, a new Cochrane centre with a vision to increase the use of best evidence to inform healthcare decision making throughout Argentina.

Cochrane Argentina consists of three institutions working in collaboration: Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria (IECS, Buenos Aires), Instituto Universitario Hospital Italiano (IUHI, Buenos Aires) and Centro Rosarino de Estudios Perinatales (CREP, Santa Fe).

Cochrane Argentina will promote evidence-based decision making in health care by supporting and training new local authors of Cochrane Reviews, as well as working with clinicians, professional associations, policy-makers, patients, and the media to encourage the dissemination and use of Cochrane evidence. Cochrane Argentina’s inaugural Director will be Agustin Ciapponi supported by the leaders of the other two institutions, Juan Franco (IUHI) and Yanina Sguassero (CREP). Together they will offer methodological support, mentoring, and supervision to the region.

 Cochrane Argentina is part of Cochrane, a global independent network of researchers, professionals, patients, carers, and people interested in health. Cochrane works with collaborators from more than 130 countries to produce credible, accessible health information that is free from commercial sponsorship and other conflicts of interest.  Cochrane’s work is recognized as representing an international gold standard for high quality, trusted information.

Director of Cochrane Argentina, Agustin Ciapponi, says this is a hugely exciting opportunity: “The launch of Cochrane Argentina is very important, both to our country and globally. Producing and increasing the dissemination of the best available information on health care is critical for clinicians and patients everywhere in the world.”

Cochrane’s CEO Mark Wilson, warmly welcomed today’s news: “We are delighted by the launch of Cochrane Argentina and look forward to welcoming more Argentine collaborators to our worldwide network of volunteers. I am sure the new Centre will greatly expand the scope, reach, and impact of Cochrane evidence on health and healthcare decision-making across Argentina and the whole of South America. We are continuing to offer through a sales trial programme one-click access to the Cochrane Library in Argentina, and downloads of Cochrane Systematic Reviews have increased by nearly 900% in the last two years. This is tremendously encouraging as we seek to help clinicians, researchers, policymakers, patients and the general public improve health outcomes across the country.”

Juan Franco (IUHI) added: “This is an innovation for our region and we intend to collaborate in the production and dissemination of Cochrane reviews to continue supporting Cochrane to reach its 2020 strategic objectives.”

Daniel Comandé (IECS), one of the Center’s Information Specialists says: “Cochrane Argentina will promote recognition of studies conducted and published in this country and this will not only simply increase the access of evidence, but also promote sharing of clinical experiences across South America and the world. 

For more information on Cochrane’s work within Argentina, please visit the Cochrane Argentina website.