Universities in the United States are being asked to make an extraordinary choice. The Trump administration’s Compact for Academic Excellence arrives dressed in the language of fairness and merit, but underneath is a funding-for-obedience deal that ties public money to political alignment. Released on Oct 5, 2025, the compact conditions federal funding on a […]
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From Crisis to Control: How Delhi Can Build Resilient Systems for Air Pollution
Despite decades of interventions—from massive funding for pollution reduction technologies to judicial activism and technocratic plans—Delhi continues to grapple with hazardous air pollution levels. Reliance on episodic interventions and fragmented governance has weakened local accountability and suppressed systemic innovation. As health emergencies worsen each winter, the case for locally led air quality autonomy has […]
Co-creating a Resilience Toolkit with Frontline Health Workers: Reflections from Participatory Workshops
There’s something uniquely humbling about sitting in a circle with the frontline health workers (FLWs) to check, “Can we build something together, for you?” The idea of creating the resilience toolkit grew out from DISHA project where 140 FLWs across six districts highlighted their challenges, coping strategies, motivation, and support needs. In July 2024, […]
Uncovering Bright Spots: How Karnali Province is Leading the Fight Against Anaemia in Nepal
Anaemia affects every second adolescent girl and women aged 15–49 years in South Asia. Anaemia stifles potential, productivity and entire economies, costing the South Asia region US$32.5 billion each year. Despite years of effort, progress has been uneven, with some communities still facing alarmingly high anaemia rates. Nepal is no exception. Nepal has made […]
Artificial Intelligence and Maternal Health: A New Opportunity for Cambodia
Every day, nearly 800 women die from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth, with 95% of these deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). These numbers reflect more than inadequate clinical care. They expose systemic challenges: shortages of skilled staff, delays in diagnosis, gaps in referral pathways, and limited access to reliable […]
Children in conflict-affected contexts have been left behind: Insights from the WUENIC vaccine coverage estimates and polio cases in 2024
In mid-July 2024, Fatima gave birth to her first child in a town in South Kordofan. Just a day later, paramilitary forces attacked her town, forcing her to flee to a remote village without healthcare. In August 2024, famine was declared in the same region she fled. Fatima’s child is now nearly one year […]
Impacts of food delivery on the environment: Can the industry overcome plastic waste, carbon emissions and health challenges to build a sustainable future?
Advances in technology have transformed access to foods, with online food delivery services (OFDS) growing rapidly. Platforms such as UberEats, Menulog, and DoorDash in Australia, and Meituan and Ele.me in China, make ordering food simple and fast. Usage surged during COVID-19 and remains high. China is the largest global market, valued at $37.7 billion […]
We Needed Pharmacists in Primary Care: But Did We Get It Right? Lessons from the UK, Opportunities for Albania
Primary care systems across Europe are under pressure and pharmacists could be part of the solution. In the UK, a shortage of general practitioners (GPs) prompted efforts to expand multidisciplinary teams, including the integration of pharmacists into general practice. A decade later, the results are mixed: pharmacists brought clear benefits, but lack of integration […]
Eliminating Uncorrected Refractive Error by 2030: LMICs Need Policies and a Roadmap, Not Just Intentions
Eye health intersects with several key UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), making it a critical issue globally. An estimated 2.2 billion people suffer from impaired vision, and uncorrected refractive error (URE) is among the primary, preventable causes of vision loss. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), approximately two-thirds of those who need spectacles lack access […]
From Aid to Autonomy: How Africa Can Build Resilient Health Systems
Despite over $1 trillion in aid allocation over the past 50 years, many African countries remain trapped in cycles of donor dependency that undermine long-term growth and development. This model, though well-intentioned, has encouraged foreign dependence, weakened local ownership, suppressed innovation, and resulted in significant resource allocation inefficiency. In today’s era of reduced funding, […]