Do we really need more skilled health workers in a world of Artificial Intelligence and digital health ? Discusses Kenneth Yakubu As at 2013, the world was in need of 7.2 million health workers and this shortage is projected to increase to 12.9 million by 2035. This number captures only the need for skilled health […]
Category: Health System
Our experience with rapid evidence synthesis: mid-level health providers (MLHPs) for Primary Health Care
What does conducting rapid evidence synthesis for decision making look like? Sandeep Moola shares his experience for developing one on MLHPs for LMICs Historically, mid-level health providers (MLHPs) have been providing diagnostic and clinical services, in high-income countries (HICs) as well as resourced constrained settings in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). They are variously […]
The public health imperative for advancing emergency care research in LMICs
Strong emergency care systems based on robust evidence are critical to advancing global health. Every minute counts when a patient is afflicted with a potentially life-threatening symptom or condition, and therefore it might seem daunting to consider conducting research in such acute conditions. But investment in emergency care research will be critical to achieving national […]
Bridging the access gap for treatment of diarrhea
This week, the global public health community welcomed the World Health Organization’s decision to include co-packaged oral rehydration salts (ORS) and zinc on its Model List of Essential Medicines for Children (EMLc). This new global normative guidance is an important and enabling step toward improving access to first line treatments for children with diarrhea. This […]
Violence against doctors in India: faltering justice systems, crippled health systems and broken dreams
Early this week India woke up to the news of a mob of “so called” family members of a patient, who had come in trucks and pelted stones in a Kolkata medical college alleging delay in handing over dead body . In the ensuing violence against doctors, a junior doctor suffered severe head injuries […]
Why drowning is ignored – and what can be done about it
Drowning is the third leading cause of death by unintentional injury, killing an estimated 360,000 a year globally, the majority of whom are children. In particular, drowning presents a significant risk in low-and-middle income countries (LMICs) where 90% of drowning deaths occur. The majority of LMICs have no national waters safety plan, or even mention […]
Short-termism: The bane of health sector development in Nigeria
We all love quick wins. Quick wins represent our aspiration of implementing interventions that are relatively easy to achieve and hopefully impactful. Short-termism is a situation where the focus is on short-term results at the expense of long-term interests. Considering the modest progress made in strengthening Nigeria’s chronically weak health systems despite successive Government and donor efforts, we need some […]
“Youth in Principle, Not on Paper or in Policy” – Primary Health Care & Universal Health Coverage
Just over a month ago, one of the most critical health events of the year took place in Astana, Kazakhstan. The Global Conference on Primary Health Care (AA40) marked the 40th anniversary of the Declaration of Alma Ata (1978), a visionary document that articulated a path forward towards health equity grounded in primary health care […]
Beyond profit and convenience: towards humanitarian dedication and conceptual coherence in Global Health
The growing presence of China as a forceful proponent in Global Health is beginning to receive proper attention. There can be no doubt that the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI) of China has begun to define the range of realistic future scenarios for individual and concerted action. These scenarios should simultaneously account for both universalizing and […]
The WHO Astana Declaration: Where lies the future of primary health care?
Last week, governments of UN member states, academics and the international health community were hosted by WHO and the Ministry of Health of Kazakhstan in Astana to reaffirm their commitment to universal primary health care. This pledge was first pronounced 40 years ago in Almaty on a Declaration that moulded the way primary healthcare works […]