Global disparities in access to quality health care are not new, but their seemingly entrenched nature cannot be a cause for complacency. Somewhat paradoxically, every new medical breakthrough splashed across front pages and television screens of developed economies increases disparities as health care systems in low- and middle-income struggle to acquire and implement new technologies and … [Read more...]
Sex differences in COVID-19 case fatality: do we know enough?
[Reprinted: The Lancet Global Health, 11-5-2020] Global data indicate higher COVID-19 case fatality rates among men than women. Most countries with available data indicate a male to female case fatality ratio higher than 1·0, ranging up to 3·5 in some cases. However, the COVID-19 case fatality rate is higher in women than men in a few countries, such as India, which is one of the worst-affected … [Read more...]
Global health: time for radical change?
[Reprinted: The Lancet, 10-17-2020] What strategies should governments adopt to improve the health of their citizens? Amid the COVID-19 syndemic it would be easy to focus attention on global health security—at a minimum, strong public health and health-care systems. WHO has based its global health strategy on three pillars: universal health coverage, health emergencies, and better health and … [Read more...]