Lancet Series 2022: Political Science and Health

This report by the Overseas Development Institute and World Resources Institute studies political challenges to road safety reform in low- and middle-income countries. Barriers identified include that road safety is not a political priority; that it is perceived as an issue of personal responsibility; that government bodies fail to collaborate; and that there is a lack of good data. The authors emphasize that road safety should focus as much on building the political will for…

This report, published by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on behalf of UN-Water, examines how equitable access to water resources and safe water supply could promote peace and prosperity, accelerating progress toward stability and sustainable development worldwide. In the wake of global shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the climate crisis, and growing inequalities, safe drinking water and sanitation remain crucial and this report explores the significance of water in people’s…

This article in The Lancet examines the historical evolution of Thailand’s health systems development that culminated in the implementation of universal health coverage (UHC) in 2002, focusing on primary health-care infrastructure, health workforce training and distribution, and the extension of financial risk protection to different target populations. The authors analyze the achievements of UHC and factors contributing to those gains, with particular emphasis on the successful elements of the health delivery system, health workforce development,…