In 1988 the World Health Assembly passed a resolution calling for the eradication of polio by 2000. There were 350 000 cases in 1988, and by 2000 the number had […]
Latest articles
Ivan Gayton on geeks and primitive fieldworkers: a tale of two cultures
As a project manager for MSF (Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders), a medical emergency humanitarian agency, I attended this year’s South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas, in the […]
Tracey Koehlmoos: Whatever happened to the diaphragm?
The recent debate in Washington about birth control being mandated for coverage by employers or by health insurance as well as the 101st celebration of International Women’s Day makes me […]
David Payne: Changes to scholarly articles
Should the journal article change, and if so, how? In this multimedia age, the workforce is increasingly populated by people who grew up with the internet, scholarly publishers anticipate the demise […]
Michael Dixon: Carpe diem—the politicians have had their day, now it’s time for doctors to seize the initiative
It is all over now. The Health and Social Care Bill has been passed. The politicians have moved on, content to leave professionals and managers to pick up the pieces. […]
Edward Davies: BMJ research, Welsh rugby, and a papal death
The life of a researcher seems to me to be a thankless task. Most research concludes that more research is needed on pretty much any given subject in pretty much […]
Richard Smith: What is sustainable intelligence?
At a recent party to honour David Pencheon, head of the NHS Sustainability Unit, we were all invited to have a go at defining sustainable intelligence. When I was a […]
Deborah Cohen: Despite recent scandals, implantable devices will not have to undergo clinical studies, leaked European draft legislation reveals
Metal on metal hips; breast implants; cardiac devices—the list of European device regulatory failures goes on. And it may be set to continue, if current EU proposals to “reform” device […]
Jeremy Sare on the French drugs model
The prime minister told Parliament last week he was determined to “stamp out” legal highs and new club drugs. There is no hope, however, of halting the inexorable rise in […]
Catherine Foot: Will the Information Strategy start an information revolution?
The Department of Health’s Information Strategy is due to be published next month. It’s been a long time in development—it’s nearly two years since the government consulted on its aim […]