Why does TB continue to prevail in Asia, and what are the implications of the recent World Health Organization (WHO) policy recommendation to ban blood tests to diagnose active TB? Dr. Mario Raviglione (Stop TB Department, WHO) addresses these questions and more, including what policymakers must do to curb the spread of TB.

Following last week’s 2011 Pacific Health Summit on vaccines, NBR spoke with Yot Teerawattananon (Thailand’s Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program) about Thailand’s new national vaccine strategy. Dr. Teerawattananon discusses Thailand’s vaccine infrastructure, potential challenges to the plan, and the role of middle-income countries in vaccine manufacturing.

How can economic development serve as a powerful and effective tool for promoting security? Dr. Erfa Iqbal (Government of Pakistan) discusses specific development projects underway in rural Pakistan, the impact of these initiatives, and how governments and the private sector can best foster security through sustainable local economies.

How should the events of March 2011 influence Japan’s role as a global aid donor, as well as affect health system changes at home? NBR spoke with Dr. Kiyoshi Kurokawa (Health and Global Policy Institute) about this and other questions related to relief efforts and the Fukushima situation.

NBR spoke with Dr. Makoto Aoki about Japan’s healthcare needs and care coordination for affected populations following the March 11, 2011 crisis. Dr. Aoki explains that many of the challenges encountered in relief and recovery efforts point to core issues in Japan’s healthcare system and disaster preparedness planning, both of which he feels would benefit from reform.

In advance of the June 2011 Pacific Health Summit on vaccines, NBR spoke with Dr. Adel Mahmoud (Princeton University) about major trends and achievements in the vaccine field over the last two decades. Dr. Mahmoud explores the impact of, and challenges surrounding, new vaccines, including pricing policies, financial structures, and the increasingly prominent role of emerging market manufacturers.

In advance of the June 2011 Pacific Health Summit on vaccines, NBR spoke with Dr. Jiankang Zhang (PATH) about China’s vaccine industry and international engagement, and the implications of WHO "pre-qualification" of China’s national regulatory system for vaccines, which allows Chinese manufactured vaccines to compete for UN tenders.

In advance of the June 2011 Pacific Health Summit on vaccines, NBR Center for Health and Aging spoke with Dr. Nigel Darby (GE Healthcare), a key leader in the global healthcare and pharmaceutical industry, about the latest trends in the field of global vaccine development, manufacturing, and technology.

NBR's Center for Health and Aging spoke with Dr. Francesco Checchi (London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine), an expert on infectious disease surveillance and control in crisis-affected populations, about the health implications for Japan from the recent tsunami and the ongoing nuclear crisis in Fukushima. Read the interview.

Dr. Scott Davis has directed a joint partnership between his affiliate institutions and the Radiation Effects Research Foundation (RERF) in Hiroshima and overseen major research projects at the Chernobyl Power Station and the Hanford Nuclear Site. In this interview he discusses the potential radiation effects and other health impacts of Fukushima as well as lessons Chernobyl can offer.

“Leveraging Advances in Health IT” by NBR highlights observations and recommendations from leaders gathered at the August 2009 workshop on how health IT can help combat infectious diseases and improve health care delivery in the Asia-Pacific.

CHA’s library of Health Information and Technology (HIT) case studies for 2007 range from analyses of HIT adoption in different countries to overviews on key elements of HIT. Functional case studies on specific surveillance systems, for example, are also included.

"Scaling Up and Sustaining Nutrition Interventions: Lessons Learned from Success in the Asia-Pacific Region" by Micronutrient Initiative experts outlines experiences, opportunities, and lessons learned in scaling up interventions in the Asia-Pacific region to address the global burden of undernutrition. This paper is cited in the Progess Towards Nutrition document in the Gates Foundation "Living Proof" project.

“Leveraging Information and Communication Technologies for Sustainable Development in Rural India” by the Rural Technology Business Incubator (RTBI) explores one organization’s model and approach to development, and provides a brief analysis of lessons learned over the past few years.

In August NBR welcomed leaders from science, policy, and industry to Singapore to discuss how HIT can help combat infectious disease in the Asia-Pacific through improved disease surveillance and healthcare delivery. Emphasis was placed on avian influenza, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis. The APEC Health Working Group and the National Bureau of Asian Research co-presented the meeting.