SciDev.Net

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.

Non-communicable disease treatment has a lot to learn from tuberculosis control programmes, say Anthony D. Harries and colleagues.

The UN programme for HIV/AIDS is out of touch with reality and hindering health capacity building, argues Roger England.

Malaria policy needs to be changed if WHO targets are to be met, warn Ephantus J. Muturi, Peter Burgess and Robert J. Novak.

Amy C. Morrison and colleagues outline key preventative measures for controlling the Aedes aegypti mosquito that spreads disease.

Reducing antibiotic use is not enough to curb the rise of resistance in the developing world, say Zulfiqar A. Bhutta and Syed Rehan Ali.

Tackling antibiotic resistance requires well-run diagnostic laboratories, says Pradeep Seth.

Africa and India are struggling in the fight against tuberculosis, say Richard E. Chaisson, Neil A. Martinson and Vikram Paralkar.

Greg W. Fegan and Trudie A. Lang urge the use of open-source database systems to increase the scope and variety of clinical trials.

Mark Grabowsky argues that the billions of dollars invested in the fight against malaria are wasted without systematic disease surveillance.

Brazil should use its resources to form a public–private partnership to tackle its neglected disease burden, says Peter J. Hotez.

Aid programmes must be refocused to tackle non-communicable diseases and injuries, say Robyn Norton, Lalit Dandona and Yangfeng Wu.