At a recent conference organized by POLA (Lithuanian Cancer Patient Coalition), I shared my insights regarding corruption in Lithuanian healthcare system. Due to the complexity of the issue, the main question that I raised during the conference was—how can you fight corruption in the Lithuanian healthcare system and where should you start? There is no doubt […]
Category: Guest writers
Taryn Youngstein: Our NHS is not up for grabs, Mr Trump
A year ago, the idea that a property magnate come reality TV star could become the most powerful person on earth was unthinkable. A week ago, the idea that he may have any involvement in the NHS seemed ludicrous. But then Theresa May was invited to become the first foreign dignitary to have an audience […]
Vanessa Yarwood: Stories of Samos refugee camp—“The situation seems to be reaching boiling point”
Our team arrives on mass to the camp, greeted by cold steel fences criss-crossing up two metres high and crowned by coils of sharp barbs. This is juxtaposed by colourful paintings on concrete walls. The next assault to our senses is “hallo,” “hallo,” “my friend,” “how are you,” and hugs and kisses from 10 or […]
Nethmi Vithanage: What’s in a name?
I consider myself a global citizen. My country of birth is different to my nationality on my passport, which again is different to its place of issue, which again is different to where I currently reside. I have resident visas for five countries across three continents and currently, I am a foundation doctor working in […]
Julia Pakpoor and Shivan Sivakumar: Is high hanging fruit high value?
In the face of chronic non-communicable diseases, the mantra goes, prevention is better than cure. If we know what causes disease, and if we can prevent its risk factors, we would soon not need most of its treatments. As two academics working in an area where causative factors of complex diseases are often not well […]
Marica Ferri: What can we learn from the evidence based medicine manifesto?
The Evidence Based Medicine Manifesto (EBM manifesto) has been launched to improve the implementation of evidence based interventions by pulling together a clear set of achievable goals, and a strong overview of the strategies that work best, to help deliver change better and faster. In some areas, such as the treatment of illicit drugs related […]
Jennifer McCaughan and Aisling E Courtney: Is balancing risk the most important skill in clinical medicine?
Every decision, both in life and in medicine, involves a balance of risk: the decision to go on holiday balances the risk of travelling to and staying in a foreign country against the benefit of a fortnight’s sunshine and relaxation; the decision to treat bacterial pneumonia balances the risk of anaphylaxis against the benefit of […]
Daniel R Lucey: “Much more must be done to implement post-Ebola reforms”
In a recent Analysis in The BMJ, Suerie Moon and colleagues convincingly argue that not enough has been done to implement actions recommended by seven post-Ebola reports in order “to ensure we are better prepared for the next pandemic” [1]. These arguments resonate with my own experiences of caring for people affected by the West […]
Abraar Karan: The success trap of academic medicine and the need for change
The career options available to physicians today are more diversified than they have ever been. Physicians are making their presence known in areas that are not fully clinical, including policy, management and leadership, the arts, communications, consulting, and more. Dual degrees have also been on the rise, with many more students pursuing the MD/MPH, MD/MPP, […]
Bernard Merkel: Should patients really be at the centre of healthcare?
I attended the recent Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) policy forum on the Future of Health, “People at the Centre,” with mixed feelings. [1] On the one hand, the conference had an exciting theme and would give me the opportunity to hear about some new ideas and international developments, as well as to catch […]