Editorial

• Author: Arnauld Nicogossian
• Published date: 01 March 2019
• Date: 01 March 2019
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/wmh3.294

Editorial

Arnauld Nicogossian

On behalf of the Editors and the Editorial Board Members, I am pleased to

introduce the f‌irst 2019 issue of World Medical & Health Policy.

In the year ahead, many threats will continue to challenge global health-care

services and already strained resources. Climate change will increase the number

of atmospheric disasters and contribute to the spread of infections. Transnational

crime will continue to impact population health, by purveying addictive

substances and engaging in human traff‌icking. Inadequate care of chronic pain

will further complicate the substance abuse crisis. With increasing population life

span, the number of patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease will grow.

Ineffective, adulterated, and costly prescription medications, and restricted access

to medical and preventive services, will continue to challenge public health.

Discrimination, violence, and societal pressures will further advance health

disparities. And, according to a recent research publication, “as many as one in

four women attending sexual and reproductive healthcare services say they are

not allowed to take control of their own reproductive lives” (Rowlands & Walker,

2019).

At the same time technological and genetic breakthroughs will accelerate, and

hold the promise to address many of the above issues if they are made available

and affordable globally. An increasing number of data banks allow better analysis

of epidemiologic data for different populations and geographic areas also offers

hope.

Original articles in this journal address some of the above challenges across

the globe. Featured articles in this issue are:

1. Access to Essential Medications and Equipment for Obstetric and Neonatal

Primary Care in Bombali District, Sierra Leone

2. Voting Characteristics of Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury

3. Continuing Medical Education and the Marketing of Fentanyl for Breakthrough

Pain

4. A Review of the Forces Inf‌luencing Maternal Health Policies in Post-War

Guatemala

5. Maternal Mortality in Nigeria: A Literature Review

World Medical & Health Policy, Vol. 11, No. 1, 2019

6

doi: 10.1002/wmh3.294

#2019 Policy Studies Organization