News and views from the Blavatnik School of Government community 
Scientific advancement in healthcare has allowed human beings to double their life spans and effectively address lethal diseases such as malaria, cholera and the plague that have in the past wiped out entire civilizations. While there is no disagreement among policymakers on the importance of healthcare, a key area of […]
The economic case for investing now and how to create alternative sources of funding. I attended and presented at the CABRI Conference on Financing Healthcare in Africa: Challenges and Opportunities, in Dar es Salaam last week of November. CABRI brings together senior officials in ministries of finance and budget in Africa, […]
Migrants’ free access to the NHS and the perceived health care costs associated with it have generated much debate in the UK and even resulted in the introduction of a fee for certain non-EU citizens. Some politicians have blamed migration for the increase in waiting times, particularly in A&E. In […]
“So you’re a Rhodes Scholar, and you’re just a family doctor?” If I was paid a dollar each time I’m asked this question, I can safely retire. It seems innocent enough, and it’s usually asked without malice. But the fundamental assumption behind this question alarms me: that family doctors are […]
Coming in to the MPP program, I wanted to learn more about health policy, especially regarding primary care reform (I’m a resident physician in general practice back home in Canada). While looking for a ‘summer project’, I did have many tempting choices, but fortunately didn’t suffer from analysis paralysis: BSG […]
The ongoing Ebola outbreak has dominated headlines for nearly a year. It is an undeniable catastrophe, with more than 10,000 lives lost and a long list of missed opportunities in the global response to the disease. However, there are a few lessons we can draw from this tragedy – particularly […]
Disseminating healthcare resources and information in countries with a widespread rural population and limited financial resources remains a public health issue. Here, Temitope Folaranmi, MPP alumnus, looks at mHealth as an innovative and potentially effective solution to overcome these problems. Over the past decade, Africa has experienced an incredible boom […]
Obesity afflicts more than one-third of American adults, leading to $147 billion in medical costs each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Researchers project that half of all Americans will be clinically obese by 2030. What will it take to change America’s eating habits? Jennifer […]