The healthcare situation in Venezuela has  worsened. In the first three months of 2018 a decay of all indices has been registered, and the forecasts are dismal for the future. Hospitals lack basic staff and people suffer malnutrition. The country is facing the re-emergence of diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis considered “under control...

Community Health Workers (CHWs) are a critical component of the health workforce in low-resource settings, but they do not get – at least for now – due recognition in many of these settings. After the Ebola outbreak in Sierra Leone, the government laid the foundation to formalize and concretely recognize the work of CHWs. Could this revised ...

A dramatic 2016 is finally over. In Venezuela, the year brought with it sinking health and social indicators, and 2017 does not bode well either. Previously-eradicated diseases such as malaria and diphtheria have resurfaced. Maternal and pediatric healthcare services are steadily collapsing, and malnourishment among children is on the rise. The ...

“Seguro Popular” has improved healthcare in Mexico providing health coverage to millions of Mexicans. Since 2003/2004 noteworthy achievements have been reached. Unfortunately, many challenges are still at stage. The healthcare system is still too fragmented forcing individuals to face unbelievable out of pocket payments. Since the last June ...

    The issue of open defecation persists in India leaving millions vulnerable to disease. Is India’s Swacch Bharat Abhiyan (SBA) or Clean India Mission the solution to this deeply entrenched social and structural issue?   Train travel on Indian railways – one of the largest train networks in the world – offers a delightful view of the co...

The path to Universal Health Coverage (UHC) is difficult for any country, but especially so for one such as India – a country struggling to provide even basic, essential care to its people; a  country where, even as UHC is exhibited as being a top priority, it risks being just a mirage.   Despite large improvements in recent years, basic heal...