Special Re:ports
Dive into our Special Re:ports that explore pressing global health challenges.
Today, roughly half of the world’s population still lacks access to essential health services, and out-of-pocket costs are driving millions into poverty each year. Covid-19 has underscored the vulnerabilities in our health systems, making universal health coverage more urgent than ever.
In this special report, we explore some of the most pressing challenges—and the solutions poised to pave the way for a healthier shared future.
We examine Kenya’s new primary healthcare model, the digital transformation of medical records underway in Vietnam, and Zambia’s efforts to retain a skilled healthcare workforce. We unpack Malawi’s quest for sustainable health financing and track India’s progress in implementing a national health insurance scheme.
Identifying successful models from nations that have made significant strides offers a blueprint for change, showing that even in the most challenging circumstances, progress is possible.
Together, let us continue to work towards universal health coverage and equitable access to essential health services.
A​ngela Tufvesson
Editor in Chief
The urgency to address childhood cancer is underscored by its global impact. While more than 80% of children in high-income countries survive, the proportion drops to less than 30% in many low-income countries.
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Stark disparities exist between regions and within countries, highlighting systemic challenges that must be addressed to ensure more equitable outcomes for children with cancer.
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Join us in our special report as we explore the pressing need for a collaborative global response to give more children a fighting chance against cancer.
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Explore the need for robust infrastructure for paediatric oncology, the crucial role of primary healthcare in early detection of childhood cancer, and the role of technology in building capacity among healthcare workers in rural areas. Learn about the latest treatment approaches for childhood brain cancer and culturally sensitive care for children with leukaemia.
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It is time to drive meaningful change and shape a better future for childhood cancer care.
Disease stigma remains a global challenge, impacting millions who suffer not just from their conditions but also from societal judgment. Stigmatised individuals face social exclusion, mental distress, and barriers to early diagnosis and proper care, exacerbating their conditions. Addressing these issues is crucial for breaking down barriers to adequate care and healthy lives for all.
This special report explores stigma surrounding three key areas often shrouded in silence and discrimination: sexual and reproductive health, obesity, and mental health.
Why is stigma so pervasive in these areas? Fear, cultural taboos, and misinformation play significant roles. We will investigate their roots, examine their harmful effects on patients and healthcare providers, and highlight strategies to combat and reduce stigma across the world.
Let’s work together to uncover efforts to fight disease stigma and promote a more inclusive, equitable world where everyone can access the care and support they need without fear of judgment.
Skin disease may appear to be a peripheral issue in the broader global healthcare domain beset by inequality. But in an interconnected ecosystem, skin diseases offer a unique window into broader public health and social issues, including access to healthcare and education, colourism, mental wellbeing, and the growing burden of chronic conditions like cardiovascular disease.
Our special report sheds light on the global burden of skin diseases with a focus on five interwoven areas: mental health, youth, racial disparities, cultural conceptions of skin, and the link with non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
We examine the health impact of skin bleaching across Africa and how advocacy and legislation can help negate the discriminatory and harmful narratives of a powerful beauty industry, as well as cultural beliefs around skin colour. We explore how myths and lack of awareness contribute to underdiagnosis of skin cancer among people of colour.
It’s clear that something as ubiquitous as skin problems can reveal complex stories about our changing world and the impact on human health.
The gender health gap is universal. There is a huge disparity in the allocation of funding and other resources for the research and treatment of healthcare concerns that are unique to women. Insufficient focus and funding leads to a scarcity of clinical research and data on women’s health issues. Until the late 1980s, women were largely excluded from clinical trials.
In higher-income countries, women typically spend more of their life in poor health despite living longer than men in general. For women in low- and middle-income countries, the gender health gap can impede access to education, financial security and independence.
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With women comprising 70% of the healthcare workforce and yet holding just one-quarter of the most influential leadership positions across the sector, we examine what can be done.
We also examine “medical gaslighting”, the economic and social disadvantages of migrant domestic workers, the potential for menstrual leave to level the playing field at work for women; and the impact of climate change on women’s health.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of global mortality, accounting for a staggering 32% of all deaths. More than three-quarter of the deaths from cardiovascular disease takes place in low- and middle-income countries. Across the world, health systems are overburdened, and the inequity in healthcare access persists.
The special report investigates what is holding us back from improving cardiovascular health outcomes and explores innovative solutions propelling us towards a brighter, heart healthier future.
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We probe the latest research and speak to internationally renowned experts about the viability of the polypill—a combination of heart and hypertension medications—as a primary or secondary prevention tool. A landmark study found that when taken after a heart attack, the polypill prevents further heart problems when compared to taking each medication separately.
Will these findings give the polypill wider acceptance?
As we begin to emerge from the pandemic, global health remains a top priority among policymakers, decision makers and health experts. There is a restless urgency to build healthier and more resilient societies that can navigate future challenges. We need to build on the momentum, and transition from foresight to action.
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We know how to reduce risk factors for non-communicable diseases and devise strong health policies, but struggle to implement them. We understand the social determinants of health, but often fail to deliver equitable healthcare. We recognise that we need to invest more in preventive measures, but encounter barriers to sourcing funding.
In search of solutions, we explore how community-led initiatives across Africa are combating a shortage of mental health personnel by training lay workers to share the management of mental health conditions with specialists. More broadly, we examine the collective trauma experienced globally due to the pandemic across the world and probe inspiring strategies to heal communities and countries.
