Despite growing attention to universal health coverage and migrant health equity, oral health remains systematically excluded from global refugee health strategies. This blog explores the implications of this gap, drawing on my clinical experience in India, health systems research in Tajikistan, and policy analysis in the United States. I argue that oral health is not a […]
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Is it wise to have an integrated ayurveda-modern medicine course?
Ayurveda, India’s traditional medicine, has historically been open-minded and inclusive. In the ancient and medieval times, it collaborated actively with the traditions of alchemy and Unani to incorporate into its knowledge-base whatever appeared true and useful. The Charaka-Samhita, a 2000-year old classic on which Ayurveda is based, expressly upheld humility and openness in the […]
What’s in your EquiTree? Exploring approaches for enhancing equity in health policy and systems research
If you committed to do one thing this year to enhance equity in health policy and systems research, what would it be? This was the question posed to participants at an organised session in the Global Symposium on Health Systems Research (HSR) in Nagasaki[i] last November. Despite growing calls for equity and inclusivity in […]
Say the “F” word: Famine and the Need for a Collective Voice in Sudan
When famine becomes unspeakable, hunger becomes invisible. In Sudan, silence and data gaps deepen a crisis that demands collective action. Famine Unsaid Since the Sudanese conflict began in April 2023, saying the “F” word – “Famine” – in the country, let alone responding effectively, has been a largely unmet challenge. In December 2024, the […]
Young people, food delivery, and corporate influence: It’s time for the public health research community to back youth leadership
We are facing a global nutrition crisis, with an estimated 93 million children (5-14-years) and 81 million young people (15-24-years) living with obesity. As food environments become increasingly shaped by corporate influence, particularly through digital platforms, the autonomy of young people is being redefined. Australia appears to be one of the first countries globally […]
Nursing in India: Between Care, Stigma, and the Struggle for Professional Respect
As a doctoral student learning about respect and dignity in maternity healthcare, I set out this blog drawing on my nursing and midwifery education in India, where I witnessed and experienced objectification, sexualisation and social degradation of nursing professions and practitioners. Rather than receiving compassionate nursing education, my classmates and I confronted sexual harassment, […]
Scaling Up Solutions: The Need for a High-Impact Innovations List
In global health, many promising innovations struggle to reach their full potential, especially in resource-limited settings. To help address this challenge, the World Health Organization (WHO) and global health leaders could consider establishing a High-Impact Innovations List (HIIL)—a strategic tool to identify and elevate innovations with the greatest potential to improve health outcomes globally. […]
A Silent Emergency: The Neglected Burden of Cardiovascular Disease in Sierra Leone
Over the past decade, the Sierra Leonean public health community has dedicated immense resources to combating deadly infectious disease outbreaks, including Ebola virus disease, Lassa fever, and COVID-19. This fight has coincided with efforts to reduce maternal and child mortality, tackle malaria, and strengthen healthcare systems. However, a quieter crisis is emerging: a rapid […]
Opinion: In the face of backlash against women’s rights, we need accountability
As 2025 unfolds, the fight for women’s rights is confronting unprecedented threats. Hard-won rights for women and girls are being rolled back at an alarming pace, from restricted access to abortion care in the United States to Afghanistan’s silencing of women in public life and Iraq’s introduction of a law allowing girls as young […]
Compassion Amidst Conflict: The Vital Role of Social Helpers for Elderly Women in Ukraine
February 2025 marked three years since the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine which has deeply affected the country and its people, leaving widespread hardship and destruction in its path. Elderly women, who represent over 60% of Ukraine’s aging population, are among the most vulnerable groups impacted by the conflict, yet their plight remains […]