The shift from high to low levels of mortality and fertility called the demographic transition occurred over a century ago in the developed world.
Equitap, a developing country-led research network, has systematically documented the performance of 15 national health systems in Asia since 2000, with a significant impact on both researchers and policymakers.
In India, researchers and policymakers have only partially succeeded in incorporating gender concerns in health research, policy and programs. There is need for a more indepth and nuanced gender analysis on women's health.
With HIV rates as high as 33%, prevention should be a central component of strategies to tackle the HIV/AIDS epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa.
The health system in Afghanistan has been chronically neglected during decades of war and conflict. As the country emerges from this situation, it is overwhelmed by a long list of priorities in almost every sector.
While India is rapidly gaining popularity as a destination for world-class health care, the state of maternal health in the country reflects poorly on public health priorities.
Although India has made significant progress in increasing life expectancy and in reducing infant and child mortality, health indicators in the less progressive states remain unacceptably poor.
Recent official documents pertaining to healthcare delivery system reform in China have focused mainly on infrastructure, equipment, management, insurance and drug policies.
The world's urban population is growing faster than its total population, especially in the developing world. The diffusion of information and communication technologies (ICTs), notably the mobile telephone, seems to be growing apace.
Until recently, the Chinese tobacco industry has been run as a state-owned monopoly. It is reported, however, that two mainland tobacco firms have begun making Marlboro cigarettes under license from Philip Morris International.