News

The success of primary health care programmes in Thailand over the past three decades can be attributed not only to medical advances but to the role of community health volunteers. Buddhist monks and their temples have been strongly involved in health promotion and education, particularly in remote, rural communities. [from introduction]

This news article presents a study in Uganda that found HIV-positive Ugandans are twice as likely to quit antiretroviral therapy (ART) if they also use traditional herbal medicine. It suggests that the integration of traditional healers into modern medical practice needs to be handled more cautiously and that rather than shunning traditional healers, the solution is to work closely with them. [adapted from author]

The African continent is facing 25% of the world’s morbidity rate with only 3% of its healthcare personnel. This is the result of years of neglect and underinvestment by African governments and the international community, plus harsh IMF restraints on nations’ budgetary expeditures. [author’s descripton]

Many countries around the world are now facing a huge brain drain of highly skilled professionals to well-paid jobs in developed countries. One of the worst affected sectors is healthcare, an area in which developing countries are struggling to keep professionals at home and encourage others to return. [auhor’s description]