How long can we afford to ignore mental health?

The implications of mental-health conditions are far-reaching

The future of cancer care: health system sustainability in Latin America

The health and economic burden posed by cancer is set to increase, with the World Health Organization projecting that cancer incidence will increase by 50% by 2040 when compared to 2020 levels. Of the ten most populous nations in Latin America, nine will see at least a 64% rise in the number of people diagnosed with cancer annually by 2040. In Brazil alone, this increase would mean one million newly diagnosed cancer patients needing care each year, significantly impacting its health system.

Why preparedness matters: new analysis suggests a relationship between Global Health Security Index high score and fewer excess deaths from COVID-19

A new paper published in BMJ Global Health found that countries with a higher score on the Global Health Security Index had fewer excess deaths from COVID-19.

The techtonic shift: what new contenders in healthcare must know about digital ecosystems

These new entrants offer everything from new tools for healthcare workers to directto-consumer solutions that bypass traditional provider- and hospital-to-patient care models.

Mechanisms used to reduce the price of antiretroviral medicines in Eastern Europe and Central Asia

The region of Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) has one of the fastest-growing HIV rates in the world. Over the last decade, weak progress has been made in the region towards meeting the UNAIDS targets, and by some measures the situation has become worse. New HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths are increasing rather than decreasing. The main HIV treatment and key to controlling the HIV epidemic globally is antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Payment innovation: the next frontier in US healthcare models

Despite high healthcare expenditures, the US ranks poorly on outcomes and costs. This situation disproportionately impacts those in need because out-of-pocket expenses can cause financial hardship for socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals and limit access to affordable medical support. The current dominant payment model, fee-for-service (FFS), entails significant financial risks for each individual service and good. As a result of Alternative Payment Models (APMs), providers are held accountable for the quality of care rather than the number of services provided.

Mental health in the Middle East: Measuring progress towards integrated, accessible and equitable mental health

Collectively, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region forms the global hotspot for the proportion of mental health disorders as a share of the total disease burden. Although mental health is receiving more interest from policymakers, and there are clear signs of progress across the region, a number of longstanding barriers remain, including Insufficient human resources to meet mental health care needs, an outdated institutional focus that isolates mental health patients from the community and widespread mental health illiteracy and stigma.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease – Addressing the "hidden" disease with innovative, multidisciplinary and patient-centric care

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic immune-mediated disorders affecting the gastrointestinal tract. Ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) are the most common IBDs. Patients with IBD typically present with abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, and in the case of UC, rectal bleeding. In the long term, patients with IBD have an increased risk of cancer. The origins of IBD can be traced to a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors coupled with abnormal immune responses to microbes in the gut.

Infographic | Inflammatory Bowel Disease – Impacts beyond the gut and the need for holistic care

Infographic | Inflammatory Bowel Disease – Health system challenges and opportunities to improve patient outcomes

Enjoy in-depth insights and expert analysis - subscribe to our Perspectives newsletter, delivered every week