Clinical research is an important aspect of universalising healthcare, enabling the development of better drugs, tests, vaccines, devices, surgical procedures and other medical interventions and protocols for their safer and more rational use. However, today it is viewed merely as a business investment with high returns.

The report is the second in a series that tracks the status of the tobacco epidemic and the impact of the interventions that are being implemented to stop it. The report provides a comprehensive overview of the evidence base for protecting people from the harms of second-hand tobacco smoke through legislation and enforcement.

More than 5,000 women die every year in Gujarat due to pregnancy complications in remote and tribal areas. The state, which faces an acute shortage of qualified gynaecologists in public health facilities, devised the Chiranjeevi Yojana wherein women below poverty line can go to empanelled private nursing homes at the government

The broad picture of immunisation in Africa is one of excellent progress and enthusiastic energy, with amazing advances having been made since the turn of the century. There has been a large drop in mortality due to measles, and about a third of countries now use a three dose regimen of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis triple vaccine (DTP3), which provides coverage of at least 80% in all districts.

The central government

Silent on the HIV/AIDS Bill that seeks to guarantee rights of persons infected with the deadly virus, the government has finally sought to make some compensation for its indifference towards the issue by unveiling the

The Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna and National Rural Health Mission have the potential to transform the health and financial security of poor households. The experience of VimoSEWA indicates that health insurance must be firmly linked to an effective public health system.

Tanzania's iodine administration programme among rural communities in Tanzania has been a success, researchers report. Levels of iodine deficiency

Overwhelming evidence shows that hazardous work, working conditions, and environment fail to maintain homeostasis results in death or severe disability. Up to the 1980s, governments did not pay major attention to occupational health in developing countries, including India. The Bhopal Gas Tragedy, in 1984, was the turning point in the history of health and safety in India.

deforestation Kenya evicts settlers Three decades after allotting land to the hunter-gatherer community of Ogiek in Mau forest, the Kenyan government has asked them to leave. The 2,500 Ogiek families have been asked to surrender their title deeds by October. The move, Prime Minister Raila Odinga said, was made to save the country

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