As you travel further away from the London offices of the Financial Times, it is not just the time zones that tick by. Reaching the borders of Africa, Asia, South America and eastern Europe, the effects of poverty become clear, not only in the physical landscape but in the priorities of healthcare. The swift mobilisation of resources to fight the recent flu pandemic – which is relatively mild compared with the many debilitating diseases faced by millions around the world – only served to underline these differences, and show that scientists and policymakers can work together effectively if the political will exists.

In this issue of FT Health, we focus on the diseases and healthcare issues that affect millions but are often absent from the health debate in rich countries. For example, the outlook remains bleak for TB, the largely treatable scourge but one that kills hundreds of thousands each year. A Moscow doctor exemplifies this as he describes how he diagnosed himself with tuberculosis, yet for fear of stigma did not tell his family and friends.