In this section of the newsletter, we provide excerpts of and links to relevant and topical studies, opinion pieces, blogs, and other articles published on leading scientific platforms on health systems, medicine, and allied social sectors, and reputed media platforms.
Beyond Omicron: what’s next for COVID’s viral evolution
News Feature article published December 7, 2022 in Nature
The rapid spread of new variants offers clues to how SARS-CoV-2 is adapting and how the pandemic will play out over the next several months. As predicted by experts early into the pandemic, the COVID-19 virus is likely to become endemic, he fifth coronavirus to permanently establish itself in humans, alongside four ‘seasonal’ coronaviruses that cause relatively mild colds and have been circulating in humans for decades or more.
Universal access to health care across the life course
Editorial article published December, 2022 in The Lancet Global Health
We are now halfway through the period allotted for the Sustainable Development Goals. This is a useful juncture to evaluate our progress and, if necessary, alter course. In global health, a particular focus is SDG 3: “To ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages”. The articles talks about whether we are on course to ensure good health at all ages.
Research Study published December 23, 2022 in BMC Health Services Research Journal
The indiscriminate use of antimicrobials is considered a major contributing factor to the increase in antimicrobial resistance. Community pharmacies are the main source of access to antimicrobials. Therefore, it is important to know dispensing service quality. The study found that the quality of antimicrobial dispensing was evaluated as suboptimal, requiring improvements in practice and strategies to promote continuing education of these professionals.