Open Access  Medical and Surgery Education Resources Online (including Hinari) – not Exhaustive and Open to Suggestions

FEBRUARY 2026

Databases for Medical and  Scientific Literature anf InformationDatabases for Medical and  Scientific Literature and Infor

Databases for Medical and  Scientific Literature and Information

PubMed® http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/. Database is free to public. PubMed® comprises more than 36 million citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full text content from PubMed Central and publisher web sites. Some articles are full text but not all.

PubMed Central®  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/  PubMed Central® (PMC) is a free full-text archive of biomedical and life sciences journal literature at the U.S. National Institutes of Health’s National Library of Medicine (NIH/NLM).

Hinari —Research4Life. (https://portal.research4life.org/content/hinari) Hinari via Reseaech4Life offers access to thousands of journals, books, and other information resources in biomedical and health sciences topics and is free for non-profit institutions in World Bank-designated Group A countries and reduced rates for Group B countries (see https://www.research4life.org/access/eligibility/) .  The journals and books can be searched through a special version of PubMed (Medline) and through other databases. Requires institutional password for log-in.

African Journals Online (AJOL)  https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ajol/browseBy/Open-Access AJOL hosts 905 Journals, including 669 Open Access Journals –many health related (https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ajol/browseBy/category ). Accessed 4 Nov 2025

SciELO – 15 Years of Open Access:  scholarly communication from numerous countries including Latin America  and South Africa. https://www.scielo.org/en/     Accessed 4 Nov 2025

Europe PMC https://europepmc.org   Many full text notations—not every article full text. Accessed 4 Nov 2025

Google Scholar. https://scholar.google.com Some articles are full text but not all.

Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ)  https://doaj.org/  Open access, peer-reviewed journals for numerous subjects including medicine and science. 80 Languages, 123 Countries; >13,000 Journals without fees (medicine, 2,118; surgery, 112, http://tinyurl.com/5n89tw37 ).  Accessed 4 Nov 2025

OpenEvidence.    https://www.openevidence.com  Accessed 4 Nov 2025

UpToDate free subscription: applicants must: Be a physician, surgeon, nurse, physician’s assistant, or medical student outside of the United States. Volunteer/work for a public or non-profit entity. https://www.better-evidence.org  Accessed 4 Nov 2025

List of African Research Journals October 2025. https://afjur.com

Open Access Journals 

Geneva Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Free medical journals: General medicine – African journals.  Languages include Deutsch, Español, Français, Italiano, Português. https://www.gfmer.ch/Medical_journals/Free_medicalTemplate.htm   Accessed 4 Nov 2025

PLOS — Public Library of Science  https://www.plos.org/   Open access journals across all areas of science and medicine Especially useful: 

Journal of Graduate Medical Education (JGME) is Open Access. https://meridian.allenpress.com/jgme/issue

Journal of Global Surgery. https://jogs.one/ . Open Access. Provides ethical, affordable, sustainable access to global surgery research.

National Academies Press (NAP) NAP offerS “ more than 8,500 titles in PDF format. Almost all of these PDFs can be downloaded for free by the chapter or the entire book.” https://www.nap.edu/content/about-the-national-academies-press Accessed 4 Nov 2025

Paperity  http://paperity.org/  Multidisciplinary aggregator of Open Access journals and papers. Search with term “Surgery” or other terms of interest.   Accessed 4 Nov 2025

Cochrane | Trusted evidence. Informed decisions. Better health. https://www.cochrane.org/   Accessed 4 Nov 2025

Free Medical Journals  Geneva Foundation for Medical Education and Research. English, Español, Français, Italiano. https://www.gfmer.ch/Medical_journals/General_medicine.htm

African Education Research Database  https://essa-africa.org/AERD Can search by country– Example: Botswana: 183 articles—Has abstracts but not all are full text

SurgAfrica Publications from several journals. Open Access. https://www.surgafrica.eu/outputs2.html Accessed 4 Nov 2025

Open Access Medical Information and Training

Bio Art Source. Build figures, presentations, and illustrations with 2,000+ science and medical art visuals. This collection of high-quality, scientifically accurate vectors, icons, and brushes is freely available within the public domain.  https://bioart.niaid.nih.gov

Public Domain Image Archive! a curated collection of 10k+ out-of-copyright historical images, all free to explore and reuse: pdimagearchive.org @pdimagearchive

PhyloPic — Free silhouette images of animals, plants, and other life forms, available for reuse under Creative Commons licenses. https://www.phylopic.org

ChatGPT—AI website  https://chat.openai.com

Global Health Delivery Online  http://www.ghdonline.org/  Harvard University

  • Better Evidence for Clinical Care grants clinicians free access to evidence-based digital tools to ensure that they have the information needed to diagnose, treat, and advise their patients. Since 2009, we have worked with UpToDate, a leading clinical decision support tool, and other digital tool providers to facilitate free access to health workers in low resource settings around the world. We have provided more than 188,000 subscriptions to clinicians working in more than 182 countries.  Apply for a free year-long subscription to UpToDate or renew your existing subscription here: https://www.ariadnelabs.org/better-evidence/apply/
  • Free Cases in Global Health Delivery (https://www.globalhealthdelivery.org/case-collection )
  • The Global Health Delivery Intensive (GHDI) is a Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (HSPH) non-degree program offered virtually every July. Students enroll in three courses, which are also components of the Master of Medical Sciences in Global Health Delivery (MMSc-GHD) degree-program offered through Harvard Medical School. The 2024 program will be delivered remotely in July. https://www.globalhealthdelivery.org/ghdi

MedlinePlus – Health Information from the National Library of Medicine. In November 2025 not being updated – likely temporary https://medlineplus.gov/ 

National Comprehensive Cancer Network GUIDELINES— https://www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/f_guidelines.asp

PANAFRICAN MEDICAL JOURNAL – Images in Clinical Medicine. With more than 2000 images (and counting), the PAMJ Clinical Medicine is the largest, ever expanding collection of clinical images in Africa https://www.panafrican-med-journal.com/images-in-medicine/index.php

PREDICT cancer website  http://www.predict.nhs.uk/index.html PREDICT is a mathematical model, accessed by the internet and has been designed for patients and doctors to help them decide on the ideal course of treatment following breast cancer surgery. First model of this type to include tumour HER2 and KI67 status. The PREDICT website only needs to know about the histopathology of your cancer. No personal information is collected or stored.

SAGES FREE RESIDENT WEBINAR SERIES.  The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) Resident and Fellow Training Committee (RAFT) offers a series of FREE educational webinars throughout the year. https://www.sages.org/residents_courses/free_courses/

ALL-SAFE/Modules. Free, open access. Lead Institution: Soddo Christian Hospital in Ethiopia. Team Countries: Ethiopia, Cameroon, Kenya. 

Building the Box Trainer https://www.appropedia.org/ALL-SAFE

  • Downloadable Build Instructions and Templates
    • Instructional Videos
    • How this looks like on the platform
    • Angled Scope Views
    • Zero Degree Scope View
    • Thirty Degree Scope View
    • Ectopic Pregnancy
    • Acute Appendicitis
    • Meckel’s Diverticulum
    • Laparoscopic Diaphragmatic Repair

Society for Pediatric Anesthesia. Please click below to complete a short survey. You will then be provided with a link to access the lectures. SPA PowerPoint Lecture Series https://redcap.vanderbilt.edu/surveys/?s=E7CK9MLD37

Human Subjects Ethics Training

UN Global Surgery Learning Hub –Courses in surgery, anesthesia, obigyn, perioperative, non-technical skills.  Sign up: https://www.surghub.org/home1    Apps on Google play https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.globalsurgery.school

Resurge: Surgery And Anesthesia –With over 50 years of experience in training surgical teams in underserved regions, we are experts in teaching surgeons how to perform life-saving procedures. These lectures are a part of our virtual learning series.  –Need to request a password. https://resurge.org/lectures/

Humanitarian Surgery & Education Webinar. Check out this website with links to webinars and presentations on various fields of surgery: emergency, colorectal, general, pediatric colorectal, peds. https://app.medall.org/event-listings/humanitarian-surgery-education-webinar-tips-tricks-for-trainees-rebekka-troller-shabnam-parkar

Orthopaedic Trauma Education. Medical Aid International — educational material on Surgical Orthopaedic Trauma Management. Register and have access to a series of educational power points covering DHS, External Fixation, Intramedullary Nailing and Fragment Plates and Screws. https://medaidacademy.co.uk/courses/orthopaedic-trauma-education/

ACGME — Improving Assessment Using Direct Observation Toolkit offering faculty development curricula for institutions that can be adapted to local needs.  The free toolkit can be accessed on Learn. https://dl.acgme.org/pages/acgme-faculty-development-toolkit-improving-assessment-using-direct-observation

GlobalSurgBox Portable Surgical Simulator is a portable, adaptable, and affordable surgical trainer that can be used by trainees of all levels. https://globalsurgbox.com/the-global-surgbox/

Standardized Toolbox of Education for Pediatric Surgery (STEPS) is a resource for faculty and senior residents to use for teaching medical students and junior residents. The APSA Education Committee has designed these presentations. https://www.pedsurglibrary.com/apsa/view/PedSurg%20Resource/1884020/all/STEPS_presentations

Surgical Education Research APSAsode! “Surgical Education Research 101”        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeHqk8209eI

SurgHub–  UN Global Surgery Learning Hub—Surgery, Ob gyn, anesthesia courses online.  COSECSA and PAACS Faculty involved as well as many other https://www.surghub.org/home1

WHO Model List of Essential Medicines – 23rd list, 2023. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-MHP-HPS-EML-2023.02

WHO Health Inequality Data Repository. https://www.who.int/data/inequality-monitor/data

World Health Organization (WHO)– OpenWHO learning platform has free online courses on diseases?  Register– https://openwho.org/courses?utm_source=social&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=epipreparedness

Zotero—Reference Manager– https://www.zotero.org

Mendeley Reference Manager. https://www.mendeley.com/reference-management/reference-manager

Mendeley Cite. https://www.mendeley.com/reference-management/mendeley-cite

Mendeley Web Importer. https://www.mendeley.com/reference-management/web-importer

NEJM Evidence Stats, STAT! Explore the full Stats, STAT! library. Each animated video explains a fundamental statistical concept. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLI8Ak-hj5dgEovGlan5oBZiyWx1sLqpMt

PLOS Writing Center. Your source for scientific writing & publishing essentials. A collection of free, practical guides and hands-on resources for authors looking to improve their scientific publishing skillset. https://plos.org/resources/writing-center/

How to Create a Visual Abstract to disseminate scientific research. 5th Edition. 2025. Free online. Since the first visual abstract in July of more than journals and institutions have adopted its use to disseminate scientific research. https://maggiesmusings688820798.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/688b9-visualabstractprimer5thed_final_march2025.pdf

Open Access Books

Early Care of the Injured Patient: A Program for Medical Students and Multidisciplinary Team Members–Student Manual [TEAM]|2nd Edition.  2009. https://www.stopthebleed.org/media/2kqfcu4r/team-student-manual-3rd-edition-for-the-cd-smaller.pdf

Open Manual of Surgery in Resource-Limited Settings. Richard Davis, Rondi Kauffmann, eds.~100 chapters currently. “We are just getting started- Four Sections with 135 Chapters are planned. To know when new content is posted, follow us on Twitter: Follow @ManualofSurgery.“ https://www.vumc.org/global-surgical-atlas/ Accessed 4 Nov 2025

Open Access Atlas of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Operative Surgery. Johan Fagan. http://www.entdev.uct.ac.za/guides/open-access-atlas-of-otolaryngology-head-neck-operative-surgery/  Accessed 4 Nov 2025

Principles of Reconstructive Surgery, revised ed. Louis Carter, Peter Nthumba, eds.  A PAACS publication. 2016.  https://paacs.net/file_download/inline/0931d32f-8f44-4f92-85d9-7710cf68cfa1 Accessed 4 Nov 2025

Primary Surgery Volume One: Non-Trauma (2nd Edition). Cotton M, et al, editors. Seattle: Global Help, 2016. https://global-help.org/products/primary-surgery/ . Accessed 4 Nov 2025

Paediatric Surgery: A Comprehensive Text for Africa. Vol. 1. Ameh EA, Bickler SW, Lakhoo K, Nwomeh BC, Poenaru D. Seattle: Global HELP Organization, 2011.  http://www.global-help.org/publications/books/help_pedsurgeryafricavolume01.pdf . Accessed 4 Nov 2025

Rethinking Global Health: Frameworks of Power. Rochelle A. Burgess. 2023. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/oa-mono/10.4324/9781315623788/rethinking-global-health-rochelle-burgess Accessed 4 Nov 2025

Safer Surgery for Africa: Challenges and Solutions. Bruce Biccard. 2024. https://www.kobo.com/za/en/ebook/safer-surgery-for-africa   Accessed 4 Nov 2025

Understanding Pain: Unravelling the Physiology, Assessment, and Management of Pain through South African Stories.2024.  https://openbooks.uct.ac.za/uct/catalog/book/52 Accessed 4 Nov 2025

War Surgery: Working with Limited Resources in Armed Conflict and Other Simulations of Violence, Volume 1.  Gionnou M, Baldan M. Geneva: International Committee Red Cross, 2009  https://www.icrc.org/en/doc/assets/files/other/icrc-002-0973.pdf   Accessed 2 Jan 2024

War Surgery: Working with Limited Resources in Armed Conflict and Other Simulations of Violence, Volume 2.  Gionnou M, Baldan M, Molde A.  Geneva: International Committee Red Cross, 2013 https://www.icrc.org/en/publication/4105-war-surgery-working-limited-resources-armed-conflict-and-other-situations-violence    (Free download). Accessed 4 Nov 2025

Neurology in Africa, William P. Howlett, 2012.  https://assets.cambridge.org/97811071/14227/frontmatter/9781107114227_frontmatter.pdf Accessed 4 Nov 2025

Oxford Textbook of Surgery, 2nd ed., 2000.      https://archive.org/details/OxfordTextbookOfSurgery2NdEd  Accessed 4 Nov 2025

A Textbook of Gynecology for Less-Resourced Locations. London: Sapiens, 2012. https://www.glowm.com/resource-type/resource/textbook/title/a-textbook-of-gynecology-for-less-resourced-locations/resource-doc/35 Accessed 4 Nov 2025

A Practical Guide to Prolonged Casualty Care. 2025.  Dr. Melissa Givens and Carol Stockton. National Institute for Defense Health Cooperation, 2025. Free eBook available now or paperback version. Access Here: https://ow.ly/Z5Lh50XKBK0

American College of Physicians Ethics Manual. Supplement15 January 2019. FREE.  Seventh Editionhttps://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/M18-2160?_ga=2.247188036.1109721242.1705166831-7515381.1705166830Accessed 4 Nov 2025

Academic Writing. Jeffrey R. Wilson. 2022. https://wilson.fas.harvard.edu/AcademicWriting   Accessed 4 Nov 2025

Rethinking Global Health. Burgess RA. 2023. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/oa-mono/10.4324/9781315623788/rethinking-global-health-rochelle-burgess   Accessed 4 Nov 2025

Transforming Global Health Partnerships: Critical Reflections and Visions of Equity at the Research-Practice Interface.https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-53793-6     Accessed 4 Nov 2025

The Foreign Gaze: Essays on Global Health—a PDF download. https://t.co/pwVjm0GRaH Accessed 4 Nov 2025

A Practical Guide to Prolonged Casualty Care.  National Institute for Defense Health Cooperation. Dr. Melissa Givens and Carol Stockton. Free eBook available now or paperback version. Access Here: https://ow.ly/Z5Lh50XKBK0

The 2026 Trauma Data Dictionary. Download Free 2026 Trauma Data Dictionary. DOWNLOAD: 2026 ACS National Trauma Data Standard Data Dictionary

Free Medical Books—FREE BOOKS4dOCTORS  http://www.freebooks4doctors.com/  Accessed 4 NOV 2025

Directory of Open Access Books https://www.doabooks.org/en

UPDATED FEB 2026