SciDev.Net

Maternal health needs a new, pragmatic, research-led approach targeted specifically for developing countries, says Priya Shetty.

Understanding the long-term consequences of undernutrition in early life is essential for health policy, says Cesar G. Victora.

Countries need to produce their own vaccines, and they need to invest in public sector capacity to do it, says Indian scientist Y. Madhavi.

Quickly detecting, not predicting, malaria epidemics is the key to disease control, says tropical medicine expert, Jonathan Cox.

We must reduce the poor's vulnerability to insect-borne disease regardless of climate change, says public health expert Ulisses Confalonieri.

Policymakers must think outside the box to strengthen clinical research networks for global health, says Harvard researcher Jeff Blander.

The United States should boost funding for food, health and water, says Thomas R. Pickering, former US ambassador to the UN.

Regional clinical research networks provide timely evidence to help emerging health policy. They deserve more support, says Jimmy Whitworth.

GlaxoSmithKline plans to cut medicine prices and create a 'patent pool' — but does any of this reflect a real drive to boost the health of the poor?

Strengthening health research in the developing world needs a coherent approach with central oversight, say John-Arne Rottingen and colleagues.

Scaling-up malaria interventions in Africa requires better surveillance and national commitment, say Laurence Slutsker and Robert D. Newman.

Africa needs postgraduate programmes that focus on local priorities to improve its health systems, say Wilson Savino and colleagues.

A change in political outlook is needed to improve health research and translate policies into action, says an editorial in The Lancet.

African governments are ill-prepared to address the continent's growing cancer burden, warn Hany Besadaand and Vadim Ermakov.

African countries must set money aside for malaria vaccines now, and hire business leaders to run control programmes, says Tom Egwang.

Cancer care in Africa faces the same challenges as general healthcare, but also needs local data and targeted solutions, says Twalib Ngoma.

We need better global monitoring for chronic diseases before we can really tackle the risks factors and prevent illness, says Colin Mathers.

Developing nations must stop aping the North's mental health services and use strategies tailored to their own needs, says Vikram Patel.

Multidrug-resistant TB needs more research to equip healthcare workers with the right tools, write Frank G. J. Cobelens and colleagues.

The EU's 'Blue Card' could rob Africa of its highly-skilled workers and reverse gains made in fighting poverty and poor health, says Peter Ngatia.