Health Policy

Realising the power of prevention for healthier futures

Health promotion and prevention within primary healthcare hold transformative potential.

Will India’s health insurance scheme meet its promise?

Jyotsna Singh—India

Will India’s health insurance scheme meet its promise?

India’s new health insurance scheme may be leaving low-income households vulnerable to financial ruin.

The critical importance of sustainable financing for NCDs

Herb Riband—Switzerland

The critical importance of sustainable financing for NCDs

NCDs cause 75% of global deaths but lack funding. Locally tailored models can improve health outcomes worldwide.

Malawi’s quest for sustainable health financing

Josephine Chinele—Malawi

Malawi’s quest for sustainable health financing

Malawi offers free public healthcare and leads in the fight against HIV but must reduce donor reliance to avoid a funding crisis.

Recognising gender disparities in accessing healthcare

Dr Shabnum Sarfraz—United Kingdom

Recognising gender disparities in accessing healthcare

Poor research leads to gaps in access and quality of healthcare for women. Identifying systemic barriers is crucial for achieving UHC.

Climate-resilient health systems are a moral imperative

Dr Githinji Gitahi—Global

Climate-resilient health systems are a moral imperative

Health systems must be fortified to withstand the climate crisis to ensure health equity and continuity of care.

Improving childhood cancer outcomes in Chile with UHC

Julia Palma & Orietta Candia—Chile

Improving childhood cancer outcomes in Chile with UHC

Securing national healthcare policies in legal mandates can help ensure long-term improvements in cancer treatment and outcomes.

Advocacy for childhood cancer is everyone’s responsibility

G. Kaspers, I. Nzamu, L. Klootwijk, L. van Tinteren, N. Wijnen—Global

Advocacy for childhood cancer is everyone’s responsibility

Advocacy is key to making improvements in the overall patient journey that are sustainable and impactful over time.

Sharing personal stories counters schizophrenia stigma

Nedim Pipic—Germany

Sharing personal stories counters schizophrenia stigma

Stigma has long accompanied serious mental illnesses, but people are starting to find power in their stories to drive change.

Ragen Chastain—US

Pulling weight stigma out by the roots

De-pathologizing higher-weight bodies is essential for combating stigma and creating a more evidence-based, weight neutral paradigm.

Nigeria's health clinics promote early cancer diagnosis

Paul Adepoju — Nigeria

Nigeria's health clinics promote early cancer diagnosis

In Nigeria, primary health centres play a vital role in early detection and community awareness in the fight against childhood cancer.

The case for dedicated paediatric cancer care in India

Jyotsna Singh—India

The case for dedicated paediatric cancer care in India

India’s inadequate paediatric cancer care leaves many families struggling, highlighting the urgent need for better support.

Becky McCall — Global

Special Report: Stigma

Is it time to rebrand obesity?

Advocates and experts push for a shift in the obesity narrative, focusing on quality of life rather than weight, but challenges remain.

Normalising the clitoris and its role in women’s sexuality

Kalkidan Tesfaye—Ethiopia

Normalising the clitoris and its role in women’s sexuality

Female genital mutilation impacts millions of girls and women. Breaking the silence around the clitoris is a global health imperative.

Improving LGBTQ+ care among Malawi’s health workers

Josephine Chinele—Malawi

Improving LGBTQ+ care among Malawi’s health workers

In Malawi, stigma among healthcare workers limits LGBTQ+ healthcare access. A community-minded philosophy is helping to build bridges.

Women with chronic illness can be empowered with information

Hellen Wangui Gathere — Kenya

Women with chronic illness can be empowered with information

Public healthcare policies should support women who have to make decisions simultaneously about their pregnancy and their condition.

Korean skincare faces a feminist revolution

Angela Tufvesson — Hong Kong

Korean skincare faces a feminist revolution

In South Korea, many young women resist patriarchal beauty standards, challenging societal expectations about their appearance.

Uncovering the hidden risks of psoriasis comorbidities

Jo Waters—United Kingdom

Uncovering the hidden risks of psoriasis comorbidities

The painful skin condition is linked with non-communicable diseases like cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and mental illness.

How scabies outbreak keeps Malawian children out of school

Josephine Chinele—Malawi

How scabies outbreak keeps Malawian children out of school

While authorities downplay scabies as a minor ailment, a local organisation is determined to ensure no child stays out of school.

Sephora Kids skincare overuse calls for responsible action

Re:solve Global Health

Sephora Kids skincare overuse calls for responsible action

The phenomenon of children overconsuming skincare and makeup underscores the urgent need for informed guidance and responsible action.

Bridging the language gap to improve healthcare access

Sari Peltonen—Finland

Bridging the language gap to improve healthcare access

An inability to understand local languages creates significant barriers to accessing healthcare for migrant and refugee communities.

Readying the drugs and the mindset to defeat dementia

Jo Waters—United Kingdom

Readying the drugs and the mindset to defeat dementia

Promising new drugs raise hopes of slowing the progression of dementia, but stigma and funds crunch remain major roadblocks.

Speeding up the race to beat breast cancer globally

Isabel Mestres — Switzerland

Special Report: Gender

Speeding up the race to beat breast cancer globally

Multisectoral partners join forces with the WHO’s global initiative to end inequities in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.

How menstrual leave can create more equitable workplaces

Zarina Geloo — Zambia

Special Report: Gender

How menstrual leave can create more equitable workplaces

In Zambia and a handful of other countries, time off during menstruation shows how workplaces can be made more inclusive for women.

Training a workforce to meet Africa’s healthcare needs

Andrea Chipman — United Kingdom

Training a workforce to meet Africa’s healthcare needs

African countries are in need of an agile and skilled health workforce that can make optimum use of scarce resources, especially in rural...

How can African countries brace against future pandemics?

Zarina Geloo — Zambia

How can African countries brace against future pandemics?

Preoccupied with managing day-to-day crises, healthcare-related and otherwise, African countries struggle to plan for tomorrow, let alone...

Why mental health care matters in a pandemic-scarred world

Chris Coulter — Canada & Derek Yach - US

Special Report: Cardiovascular

Why mental health care matters in a pandemic-scarred world

Governments and charities are committing billions of dollars to safekeep the world from future pandemics.

Towards better prevention and care for stroke in LMICs

Andrea Chipman — United Kingdom

Towards better prevention and care for stroke in LMICs

Death or disability from stroke is a growing concern around the world, with low- and middle-income countries more affected.

Costs and benefits of achieving the Sustainable Development Goal target 3.4

Re:solve Global Health

Special Report: Mental Health

Costs and benefits of achieving the Sustainable Development Goal target 3.4

Most countries have made little progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target 3.4, which calls for a reduction in...

Teresa Tseng — the US & Sean Lybrand - Switzerland

Healthy minds for healthier hearts

Chronic illnesses often lead to poor mental health, and in the case of heart disease it can worsen the condition.

Ask the expert: the role of policy in mental health

Suntosh Pillay — South Africa

Special Report: Mental Health

Ask the expert: the role of policy in mental health

How policy workers can factor in social determinants in the provision of mental health services.

Sugar taxes: Searching for the sweet spot

Danny Buckland — United Kingdom

Sugar taxes: Searching for the sweet spot

Sugar taxes and food product labelling are increasingly in use to help people choose healthy and arrest the surge of non-communicable...

Insights for Preventing Diabetes in Latin America

Andrea Chipman — United Kingdom

Insights for Preventing Diabetes in Latin America

Better collaboration between all stakeholders is key to preventing and diagnosing diabetes in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) in...

Hayley Jones — Australia

Using the Law to Combat NCDs

When implemented alongside other policies and public health initiatives, laws to reduce the risk factors for non-communicable diseases...

Taking action against diabetes in crisis settings

Andrea Chipman — United Kingdom

Taking action against diabetes in crisis settings

The number of people displaced by humanitarian crises is rising, and there is a pressing need to address non-communicable diseases like...

Zambia pushing through the barriers to better care

Zarina Geloo — Zambia

Zambia pushing through the barriers to better care

In Africa, non-communicable diseases like diabetes will be a more serious threat to life than all other illnesses within 10 years. The...

The Sugar Crossroads: Timely diabetes intervention is key

Aimee Andag Silva — Philippines

The Sugar Crossroads: Timely diabetes intervention is key

When travelers reach crossroads, they need to choose a direction to take. Should they forge ahead, make a turn or go back and retrace...

Addressing diabetes through traditional Indigenous ways: listen, learn, act

Jeff Cyr — Canada

Addressing diabetes through traditional Indigenous ways: listen, learn, act

The number of people with type 2 diabetes continues to expand to record levels globally, and Indigenous peoples have some of the highest...

A global health convergence for approaching infectious and noncommunicable diseases

Norman Coleman & Donna O’Brien - United States

A global health convergence for approaching infectious and noncommunicable diseases

The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the threat that sudden stresses pose to health resources and supply chains in all countries,...

Kenya shines light on mental health crisis sweeping Africa

Verah Okeyo - Kenya

Kenya shines light on mental health crisis sweeping Africa

A new commitment by Kenya’s leaders helped move mental illness onto the health agenda, yet political will was only the beginning of the...

Overcoming key barriers to quality diabetes care around the world

James Anderson - United Kingdom

Overcoming key barriers to quality diabetes care around the world

Innovations in diabetes treatment and management have made enormous contributions to global health over the past 100 years, but there are...

Teofilo O.L. San Luis Jr. - Philippines

The thyroid, the organ below the radar

Thyroid disorders (TDs) rarely get the publicity of more well-known disease groups, but can lead to tragic consequences, especially in...

A goal without a plan is just a wish – the importance of national cancer control plans

Zuzanna Tittenbrun & Sonali Johnson - Switzerland

A goal without a plan is just a wish – the importance of national cancer control plans

Cancer is a challenging disease for all health systems, and the lack of a national cancer strategy can make it more difficult for them to...

People power as the driver and disruptor for the NCD agenda

Kwanele Asante — South Africa & Bruno Helman - Brazil

People power as the driver and disruptor for the NCD agenda

Health care systems around the world are facing growing calls to make care pathways for people living with non-communicable diseases...

Addressing the unmet needs of people living with diabetes: 100 years after the discovery of insulin

Molly Guy - United States of America

Addressing the unmet needs of people living with diabetes: 100 years after the discovery of insulin

2021 represents the 100th anniversary of the discovery of insulin and the official launch of the new WHO Global Diabetes Compact. Still,...

Building Back Better: Investing in healthy populations and resilient health systems for NCDs and men

dmaccounts

Building Back Better: Investing in healthy populations and resilient health systems for NCDs and men

An open letter to Heads of State and Government The novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has exacerbated deep inequalities in our...

Pandemic builds potential for better global health

Andrea Chipman — United Kingdom

Pandemic builds potential for better global health

The novel coronavirus pandemic has exposed the fault lines in both global and national health infrastructures, highlighting inequalities...

Ben Hirschler - United Kingdom

The hidden health crisis

A decade of initiatives to combat non-communicable diseases have failed to curb their growth. Policymakers need a more comprehensive...

Andrea Chipman — United Kingdom

Previous reports

Obesity casts a big shadow

Rates of obesity are skyrocketing, and more comprehensive policies are needed to fully address the complex causes of the condition Audio:...

Danny Buckland — United Kingdom