BACKGROUND Surgical disease is inadequately addressed globally, and emergency conditions requiring surgery contribute substantially to the global disease burden. METHODS This was a review of studies that contributed to define the population-based health burden of emergency surgical conditions (excluding trauma and obstetrics) and the status of available capacity to address this burden. Furthe...

SUMMARY While initiatives exist to address the worldwide need for surgeons, none involve a student-driven solution from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In response to falling surgical residency enrolment in South Africa, the students at the University of Cape Town (UCT) founded the UCT Surgical Society and were subsequently instrumental in creating the International Association of Stu...

AIM Diabetes is a growing burden especially in low and middle income countries (LMICs). Inadequate access to diabetes care is of particular concern and selection of appropriate diabetes medicines on national essential medicines lists (NEMLs) is a first step in achieving adequate access. This selection was studied among LMICs and influences of various factors associated with selection decisions ...

In recent years, the private and public sectors have increased investments in medical diagnostics for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Despite these investments, numerous barriers prevent the adoption of existing diagnostics and discourage the development and introduction of new diagnostics in LMICs. In the late 1990s, the global vaccine community had similar challenges, as vaccine cov...

A major constraint to the application of any form of knowledge and principles is the awareness, understanding and acceptance of the knowledge and principles. Systems Thinking (ST) is a way of understanding and thinking about the nature of  health systems and how to make and implement decisions within health systems to maximize desired and minimize undesired effects. A major constraint to applyi...

Background: Overuse of injections is a common problem in many low-income and middle income countries. Whil

BACKGROUND Despite investment in family planning programs and education, unmet need for family planning remains high among young women (aged 15-24) in low and middle-income countries, increasing the risk for unwanted pregnancies and adverse social and reproductive health outcomes. There is a dearth of cross-national research that identifies the differential impact of community level factors amo...

Summary Mental disorders (including substance use disorders, dementia, and self-harm) account for a substantial burden of disease economic costs in low-income middle-income countries (LMICs), yet they attract little funding. External resources are urgently needed but evidence on investments is scarce. This Health Policy paper uses 35 elite interviews documentary analyses to examine how...

Health systems, particularly those in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), need stronger management and leadership capacities. Management and leadership are not synonymous, yet should be considered together as there can be too much of one and not enough of the other. In complex adaptive health systems, the multiple interactions and relationships between people and elements of the system me...

The plurality of healthcare providers and funders in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) has given rise to an era in which health partnerships are becoming the norm in international development. Whether mandated or emergent, three common drivers are essential for ensuring successful health partnerships: trust; a diverse and inclusive network; and a clear governance structure. Mandated and ...