Uphill battle
Displacement, disease and drug shortages are faced by desperate civilians caught up in long-running wars, writes Charis Gresser
The economic and social implications of healthcare place it at the centre of the news agenda. In this series, FT writers and outside contributors explore a range of healthcare issues, from policy and technological advances to ageing and disease prevention.
Six leading experts gathered in London recently to discuss a range of health issues and to debate whether current models are sustainable. You can listen here to the whole debate, moderated by Nicholas Timmins, FT public policy editor

The many health crises that confront the planet – and poor countries in particular – are often held back by lack of funds, but new alliances between for-profit and non-profit partners offer hope, writes Andrew Jack
Public-private partnerships in food fortification are an efficient and sustainable way of improving the health of the world’s poorest, writes Sarah Murray
A convergence of interests between developed and developing countries is bringing neglected health issues into focus
Up to half the world’s population is at risk from insect-borne diseases. Clive Cookson reports on the fight to conquer this plague
Clive Cookson reports on the latest healthcare news
Displacement, disease and drug shortages are faced by desperate civilians caught up in long-running wars, writes Charis Gresser
Bombings and unrest may be on the decline in Iraq, but life’s far from safe for the country’s overstretched medics, writes Neil Arun
On the battlefield, swift access to the latest medical treatment is helping to save the lives of soldiers, says Andrew Jack
In the central African country, ceaseless fighting has left millions dead and a healthcare system wrecked, writes Emma Pearson
What is the remedy for a healthcare system that is blighted by bureaucracy, incompetence and a basic lack of adequate funds, asks Richard Lapper
The sun is a natural source of vitamin D, but with more of us cooped up and covered, scientists suspect there are health ramifications, writes Clive Cookson
More children will die needlessly unless something is done to increase the uptake of MMR vaccinations, says Margaret McCartney
A UK institute devoted to the assessment of technology and clinical practice is influencing health policies worldwide, says Tsung-Mei Cheng
It’s one of the world’s most neglected, yet most devastating, diseases. Is effective treatment for TB in sight at last? By Andrew Jack
Uninsured Moscow doctor Dmitry Karamyshev treated himself for TB without telling his family or his patients
The ageing of the global population and of the healthcare systems that have traditionally cared for them poses myriad new challenges, writes Andrew Jack
Outmoded attitudes to research and a reluctance to adopt new methods are holding back surgery, writes Clive Cookson
With its working population ever shrinking, Japan is having to rethink the funding of its healthcare system, writes Michiyo Nakamoto
Decoding the genetics of ageing promise to improve our health in old age, writes Clive Cookson
Products designed with older or disabled people in mind can restore confidence, comfort and control, writes Sarah Murray
Most agree that electronic records are essential to the future of medical practice but implementing systems is proving to be an almighty hurdle, says Nicholas Timmins
Women’s preference for certain specialties and for part-time working is changing the profession, writes Nicholas Timmins
Our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease is improving but hopes for a cure are remote, writes Andrew Jack
Medical devices are moving beyond a functional focus to cater to more design-conscious users, writes Sarah Murray
From saving the planet to a vaccine for swine flu, Clive Cookson and Andrew Jack report on the latest healthcare news
Boutros Wadieh Boutros, an Egyptian doctor, says family care in a familiar environment eases the suffering of Alzheimer’s patients
Doctors must be more mindful of the cumulative side effects when prescribing drugs, writes Margaret McCartney
Increased state intervention in the market has cleared the way for greater involvement in public health, says Julian Le Grand
The ‘swine flu’ scare has highlighted the importance of getting the basics right when safeguarding your health, writes Ravi Mattu
People expect improved, extended lives. Can collective funding systems stand up to the pressure? By Nicholas Timmins
The successful Dutch healthcare system is pleasing patients and attracting interest overseas, write Michael Steen and Nicholas Timmin
Despite society’s obsession with extending life, few diseases have been eradicated and new threats emerge. By Andrew Jack
Lisa Lynch bypassed a long wait by paying for the initial stages of her cancer treatment, but still admires Britain’s NHS
Scientists have produced a robot so small it could swin through the bloodstream, says Clive Cookson
Technological advances and rich-world aid can surmount the severe health threats facing the poor, writes Jeffrey Sachs
Treatments remain far off, but there have been great leaps in our understanding of common diseases, writes Clive Cookson
The economic and moral implications of healthcare place it at the centre of the agenda
The war on cancer has raged for decades and, despite advances, victory remains as elusive as ever, writes Andrew Jack
Margaret McCartney explains why an economic downturn can have an adverse affect on your mental health as well as your wallet