top of page

Health Policy
The why and how of building consensus for a healthier tomorrow


WHO member states seal historic pandemic treaty
The WHO has agreed to a new legally-binding treaty by adopting the WHO Pandemic Agreement.


It is time to shift the paradigm on rare diseases
It’s time to make rare diseases a global health priority and ensure that people living with rare diseases are not left behind.


Can high-cost gene therapies become affordable for all?
As new gene therapies offer hope for rare diseases, health systems work to balance innovation with sustainability.


Designing a collaborative care system beyond caretakers
Rare disease patient management must include providing both long-term support for patients and peace of mind for families.


Bringing rare eye diseases into focus
Rare eye diseases are often overlooked. Integrating rare disease and eye health initiatives ensures access to universal care.


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


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


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.


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


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


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


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


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


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


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


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