BMJ Global Health最新文献

{"title":"Are quality medicines affordable? Evidence from a large survey of medicine price and quality in Indonesia.","authors":"Vinky Maria, William Nathanial Tjandrawidjaya, Ayu Rahmawati, Prih Sarnianto, Yusi Anggriani, Elizabeth Pisani","doi":"10.1136/bmjgh-2024-015416","DOIUrl":"10.1136/bmjgh-2024-015416","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Since Indonesia implemented one of the world's largest single-payer health insurance schemes in 2014, the price of many common medicines has fallen dramatically. Industry groups warn unsustainably low prices threaten quality, while the government says medicines remain overpriced. We investigate the relationship between the price and quality of essential medicines and the affordability of medicines paid for out of pocket.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We bought over 1000 samples of five common prescription medicines-allopurinol, amlodipine, amoxicillin, cefixime and dexamethasone-online and from randomly selected pharmacies and health facilities in four regions across Indonesia. We recorded the price paid and tested samples for quality using high-performance liquid chromatography. We compared prices with the median and lowest prices for each medicine, tested for correlation between quality and price, and calculated affordability compared with the district minimum wage.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Medicines available in the public procurement system were less likely to fail quality testing than other brands/varieties (4.2% vs 8.3%) but the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.086). There was no other relationship between quality and price, or branded status. Branded generic medicines sold at a large variety of price points, from 0.3 to 18.6 times the median price for the medicine and dose (IQR: 0.9-5.0, median 1.4). Unbranded generics traded in a narrower range (range 0.1-2.6; IQR 0.6-1.0, median 0.8). Medicines were most expensive in the region with the lowest wages, but even there, medicines selling at the 25th percentile of available prices cost a maximum of 0.7% of 1 day's wage for a course.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>In every study district, we found that Indonesian patients working at the minimum wage could access affordable, quality-assured versions of all studied essential medicines. More expensive brands were also widely available, but there was no relationship between price and quality.</p>","PeriodicalId":9137,"journal":{"name":"BMJ Global Health","volume":"10 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12104911/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144141397","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Responsible artificial intelligence in public health: a Delphi study on risk communication, community engagement and infodemic management.","authors":"Daniela Mahl, Mike S Schäfer, Stefan Adrian Voinea, Keyrellous Adib, Ben Duncan, Cristiana Salvi, David Novillo-Ortiz","doi":"10.1136/bmjgh-2024-018545","DOIUrl":"10.1136/bmjgh-2024-018545","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Artificial intelligence (AI) holds the potential to fundamentally transform how public health authorities use risk communication, community engagement and infodemic management (RCCE-IM) to prepare for, manage and mitigate public health emergencies. As research on this crucial transformation remains limited, we conducted a modified Delphi study on the impact of AI on RCCE-IM.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>In two successive surveys, 54 experts-scholars with expertise in public health, digital health, health communication, risk communication and AI, as well as RCCE-IM professionals-from 27 countries assessed opportunities, challenges and risks of AI, anticipated future scenarios, and identified principles and actions to facilitate the responsible use of AI. The first Delphi round followed an open, exploratory approach, while the second sought to prioritise and rank key findings from the initial phase. Qualitative thematic analysis and statistical methods were applied to evaluate responses.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>According to the expert panel, AI could be highly beneficial, particularly for risk communication (eg, tailoring messages) and infodemic management (eg, social listening), while its utility for fostering community engagement was viewed more critically. Challenges and risks affect all three components of RCCE-IM equally, with algorithmic bias and privacy breaches being of particular concern. Panellists anticipated both optimistic (eg, democratisation of information) and pessimistic (eg, erosion of public trust) future scenarios. They identified seven principles for the responsible use of AI for public health practices, with equity and transparency being the most important. Prioritised actions ranged from regulatory measures, resource allocation and feedback loops to capacity building, public trust initiatives and educational training.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>To responsibly navigate the multifaceted opportunities, challenges and risks of AI for RCCE-IM in public health emergencies, clear guiding principles, ongoing critical evaluation and training as well as societal collaboration across countries are needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":9137,"journal":{"name":"BMJ Global Health","volume":"10 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12104889/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144131859","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Teleneurosurgery between Greenland and Denmark.","authors":"Najannguaq Jørgensen, Thorbjørn Søren Rønn Jensen, Simon Bernth-Andersen, Frank Damborg, Anders Vedel Holst, Kåre Fugleholm, Ramona Åstrand, Alexander Lilja-Cyron, David Kulber, Kylie Tanabe, Marianne Juhler, Torstein R Meling, Tiit Illimar Mathiesen, Jeppe Haslund-Vinding","doi":"10.1136/bmjgh-2024-017994","DOIUrl":"10.1136/bmjgh-2024-017994","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Department of Neurosurgery at the University Hospital of Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet, provides tertiary care for patients from Greenland, where geographical remoteness and weather-related challenges often hinder timely access to neurosurgical interventions. This article presents a new initiative exploring the use of online supervision technology to facilitate neurosurgical care in remote settings. In 2024, a teleneurosurgical collaboration was launched between Queen Ingrid's Hospital in Nuuk, Greenland, and Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet. The program involved training local surgeons to perform cranial neurosurgical procedures using smart glasses, enabling real-time supervision from neurosurgeons in Copenhagen. In May 2024, the first patient was successfully operated on using this approach. Real-time visualization and interactive communication, including drawing and zooming features, allowed precise guidance and effective support. The integration of smart glass technology has the potential to enhance the safety of local neurosurgical care in Greenland and reduce the need for prolonged patient evacuation. This initiative supports the broader vision of equitable healthcare delivery and may inspire future applications in other surgical fields and training environments., are.</p>","PeriodicalId":9137,"journal":{"name":"BMJ Global Health","volume":"10 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12104906/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144131948","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Making health insurance responsive to citizens: learning from six low-income and middle-income countries.","authors":"Anas Ismail, Inke Mathauer, Patricia Akweongo, Mery Concepcion Bolivar Vargas, Sapna Desai, Dinna Prapto Raharja, Modupe Adeoti Ogundimu, Stela Stojisavljevic, Manuela De Allegri, Zubin Cyrus Shroff","doi":"10.1136/bmjgh-2024-018176","DOIUrl":"10.1136/bmjgh-2024-018176","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Many low-income and middle-income countries have introduced public health insurance systems, whereby, thanks to government subsidies, selected groups are entitled to receive insurance coverage even if not paying direct contributions into the system. These efforts towards achieving universal health coverage were often undermined by difficulties in enrolment and registration, barriers to health service utilisation or complicated rules around service packages. Governmental and non-governmental accountability initiatives have been established to overcome these barriers in order to make health insurance programmes responsive and to empower citizens. This paper examines evidence and synthesizes lessons from 20 accountability initiatives in six selected countries to understand how these achieved (or not) these goals.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We systematically analysed six final reports and five published papers which were part of a multicountry research programme from 2019 to end of 2022 studying accountability initiatives. Between June 2023 and September 2024, we systematically extracted data and synthesised findings from the reports and papers based on a conceptual framework, adapted from a framework developed by Molyneux, which had been adopted by the country teams to guide their studies. We coded the extracted data and identified the content, context and process factors that enabled or hindered the accountability initiatives in achieving their intended goals. We present and discuss factors that were present in at least two initiatives.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Governmental initiatives were in most instances established in conjunction with the health reforms that introduced the health insurance programmes they address. Whereas some of these initiatives were effective, many were undermined by poor outreach to citizens, inadequacy of resources, conflicts of interest and power imbalances and lack of fidelity to original design. Non-governmental initiatives often emerged to fill existing gaps in government services and programmes. Many of the non-governmental initiatives had several features which helped them in contributing to citizen empowerment, and these included embeddedness in and being trusted by the local communities, flexibility in operating and reaching out to people and the underlying motivation of people working in them.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The effective implementation of accountability initiatives requires transparency, trust-building measures, active outreach and community engagement and adequate resources. These elements can ensure that initiatives achieve their intended goal of enhancing citizens' access to their health insurance entitlements. Further research is needed to understand how best collaboration between governmental and non-governmental initiatives can be fostered to build synergies between the two toward the achievement of common goals.</p>","PeriodicalId":9137,"journal":{"name":"BMJ Global Health","volume":"7 Suppl 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12107628/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144131881","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Socioeconomic health and impact of sickle cell disease and vaso-occlusive crises in India: results from B-VOCAL study.","authors":"Dipty Jain, Tulika Seth, Shashank Udupi, Suman Jain, Seema Bhatwadekar, Nandakumar Menon, Rabindra Jena, Ravindra Kumar, Bharat Parmar, Anil Goel, Ashvin Vasava, Anupam Dutta, Priyanka Samal, Riya Ballikar, Deepa Bhat, Tuphan Kanti Dolai, Jina Bhattacharyya, Disha Shetty, Manish Mistry, Shomik Ray","doi":"10.1136/bmjgh-2024-017887","DOIUrl":"10.1136/bmjgh-2024-017887","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Sickle cell disease (SCD) with vaso-occlusive pain crisis (VOC) has a major impact on healthcare resource utilisation and poses a significant financial burden for the patients. This study examines the economic implications of managing VOC in individuals with SCD in India, from the perspectives of patients, healthcare system and society.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional, observational study included 1000 patients with SCD across 14 centres enrolled from November 2021 to June 2022. Data were collected systematically using a structured electronic case record form. Employing a cost-of-illness approach, the study assessed the economic impact of SCD and VOC management, including assessing patient/caregiver costs, healthcare provider costs and societal burdens extrapolated to the larger SCD population in India.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>Patients incurred substantial out-of-pocket expenses, with a median (IQR) annual expenditure of INR 22 080/US$267 (IQR: INR 36 990/US$447.7), representing 14.65% (26.53) of their annual household income. Overall, catastrophic healthcare expenditure (CHE) for total annual average SCD care with VOC management was experienced by 624 patients (62.40%). Moreover, 334 patients (33.4%) experienced CHE of >25% of the annual household income. Patients with SCD with VOC had significantly higher median annual healthcare expenditures and used a higher median percentage of their yearly household income on healthcare compared with those without VOC (19.82% vs 6.08%; p<0.001). Cost incurred by healthcare providers for VOC management in different healthcare facilities (outpatient department/emergency department/intensive care unit) was similar across different reimbursed facilities (government tertiary care hospitals, non-governmental organisation-operated healthcare centres and government-subsidised healthcare setups). The estimated societal burden for VOC management in 1 year for 1000 patients visiting different healthcare facilities was around INR 35 119 074 (~US$0.42 million).</p><p><strong>Interpretation: </strong>These findings highlight the considerable economic strain on both patients and healthcare providers in SCD and VOC management, which is similar to the other non-communicable diseases emphasising the urgent need for targeted interventions to improve financial hardships among patients.</p><p><strong>Funding: </strong>The study was funded by Novartis Healthcare Private Limited.</p>","PeriodicalId":9137,"journal":{"name":"BMJ Global Health","volume":"10 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12104896/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144131923","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Navigating independence: the short-term and long-term impacts of USAID dismantling on Somalia's humanitarian and development landscape.","authors":"Abdirahman Moallim Ibrahim, Mohamed Osman Mohamed","doi":"10.1136/bmjgh-2025-019330","DOIUrl":"10.1136/bmjgh-2025-019330","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":9137,"journal":{"name":"BMJ Global Health","volume":"10 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12104880/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144131851","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring global health diplomacy in Iran: insights from experts in health and foreign policy.","authors":"Sanaz Taghizade, Amirhossein Takian, Mohsen Asadi-Lari, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Ebrahim Jaafaripooyan, Jalal Arabloo","doi":"10.1136/bmjgh-2024-017797","DOIUrl":"10.1136/bmjgh-2024-017797","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The literature on global health diplomacy (GHD) is scarce, particularly in the context of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study thus explores the GHD concept, content, policy-making process and influencing factors in Iran from the perspectives of key health and foreign policy-makers.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This is a qualitative study using conventional content analysis. We conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 29 experts from the health and diplomatic sectors in Iran, supplemented by five focus group discussions. We used purposeful and snowball sampling techniques to identify key informants and continued data collection until saturation was achieved. Data analysis was facilitated by MAXQDA V.12 software.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A lack of consensus emerged among the health and foreign policy-makers regarding the definition and importance of GHD, and the varying interpretations of the concept were influenced by the level of knowledge, personal experiences and professional backgrounds, values and belief systems of participants. GHD was found under a relative influence of-both explicit and implicit-ideological and political challenges in Iran. The excessive emphasis on the ideological aspects and the dominance of political, security and military considerations over other foreign policy objectives have been identified as a major barrier to achieving the desired policy goals. Health integration into foreign policy has often been reactive and crisis-driven, rather than planned and proactive, failing to adequately identify or optimise available domestic and international opportunities. Additionally, participants singled out the lack of an inter-sectoral institution or steering council to improve policy coherence and enhance coordination across and within sectors.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>A common understanding of GHD is expected to pave the way for the implementation and effective achievement of broader foreign and health policy goals in LMICs, such as Iran.</p>","PeriodicalId":9137,"journal":{"name":"BMJ Global Health","volume":"10 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12104918/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144126687","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reflections on 50 years of immunisation programmes in the WHO African region: an impetus to build on the progress and address the unfinished immunisation business.","authors":"Amos Petu, Balcha Masresha, Charles S Wiysonge, Jason Mwenda, Kwasi Nyarko, Ado Bwaka, Sarah Wanyoike, Franck Mboussou, Benido Impouma, Abdulmumini Usman, Olushayo Oluseun Olu, Alex Ntale Gasasira, Joseph Waogodo Cabore, Matshidiso R Moeti","doi":"10.1136/bmjgh-2024-017982","DOIUrl":"10.1136/bmjgh-2024-017982","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Immunisation is crucial to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals for maternal and child mortality reduction. As Africa marks the 50th anniversary of implementing immunisation programmes, it is imperative to review progress, address challenges and strategise for the future. Using available programme data, this article examines the progress made in achieving the immunisation milestones in the region, describes the success factors and lessons learnt and makes recommendations on how to immunise every African child in the coming years. The article concludes that despite significant improvements in childhood immunisation coverage, the region still falls short of global targets, with disparities across countries. Contributing factors include, among others, weak health systems, rapid population growth without corresponding increases in service delivery, vaccine hesitancy, inadequate sustainable financing and disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Moving forward, efforts to attain the global immunisation coverage milestones should focus on building on the past progress, addressing the COVID-19 setbacks, leveraging new technologies and securing sustainable immunisation funding. This can be achieved by accelerating the implementation of the Immunization Agenda 2030 and the Addis Ababa Declaration on Immunization commitments. The support of all stakeholders including political leaders, public health professionals, the vaccine industry, regional organisations, academia, donors and healthcare workers is essential for this noble endeavour.</p>","PeriodicalId":9137,"journal":{"name":"BMJ Global Health","volume":"10 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12097073/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144118797","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The red thread: stakeholder perspectives on menstrual health and hygiene in Ghana.","authors":"Sitsofe Gbogbo, Israel Wuresah, Priscilla Klutse, Sarah Odi Mantey, Ishmael Boateng, Paramount Eli Nelson, Veronica Okwuchi Charles-Unadike, Darline El Reda, Constance Currier","doi":"10.1136/bmjgh-2025-019124","DOIUrl":"10.1136/bmjgh-2025-019124","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Menstrual hygiene management is a challenge for girls and women in Ghana due to a lack of access to affordable menstrual products; water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities; inadequate menstrual health education; and social stigma surrounding menstruation. This study aimed to explore the experiences and perspectives of various stakeholders and identify strategies for improving menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) among adolescent girls.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We recruited stakeholders for focus group discussions (FGDs) from basic schools (primary and junior high, grades 1-9) in Hohoe, Volta Region, Ghana. We conducted FGDs with adolescent boys (n=60), parents (n=48) and gatekeepers (n=19). Semi-structured guides were developed and used during FGDs, recorded and supplemented by field notes. Transcripts were thematically analysed using MAXQDA 2024 software.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Adolescent boys demonstrated a willingness to learn and support menstrual health of peers, challenging the assumption that they primarily contribute to stigma. The study also indicated a shift in perceptions and practices related to menstruation among parents; whereas, gatekeepers highlighted government commitments on MHH infrastructure and material provision for schoolgirls. Based on the findings, the following strategies were identified: (1) the need for adequate WASH facilities, (2) the need to address stigma associated with MHH, (3) the need to reduce the cost of sanitary materials and (4) the need for improved menstrual health education.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These results confirm that cultural stigmas, inadequate facilities and financial constraints still exist. These act as key barriers to MHH for schoolgirls in Hohoe, Ghana. To support girls' health, dignity and education, recommendations include inclusive education programmes, improved WASH facilities and affordable and/or sustainable menstrual products.</p>","PeriodicalId":9137,"journal":{"name":"BMJ Global Health","volume":"10 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12097085/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144118802","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Clustering and visualisation of the GABRIEL network expertise in the field of infectious diseases.","authors":"Cécile Chauvel, Philippe Vanhems, Marie-Charlotte Quemin, Marianne Abifadel, Shally Awasthi, Sayera Banu, Silvia Figueiredo Costa, Sara Eyangoh, Monzer Hamze, Zakir Hossain, Bourema Kouriba, Daniel Mukadi-Bamuleka, Francine Ntoumi, Abdoul-Salam Ouedraogo, Phimpha Paboriboune, Jean William Pape, Chan Leakhena Phoeung, Firdausi Qadri, Ana Tereza Ribeiro Vasconcelos, Graciela Russomando, Luc Samison, Marilda Agudo Mendonça Siqueira, Nestani Tukvadze, Jianwei Wang, Florence Komurian Pradel","doi":"10.1136/bmjgh-2024-017595","DOIUrl":"10.1136/bmjgh-2024-017595","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The Global Approach to Biology Research, Infectious diseases and Epidemics in Low-income countries (GABRIEL) network is an international scientific network of 21 centres coordinated by the Merieux Foundation (Lyon, France). Mapping and characterising the similarities and differences in expertise and activities across four major infectious diseases (tuberculosis, antimicrobial-resistant infections, acute respiratory infections and emerging pathogens) among these centres would help to provide a better understanding of the network's capacity. It will also highlight how the applied methodology can enhance information sharing within research networks.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Each centre responded to a questionnaire on their core activities and research themes. An advanced multivariate analysis was performed to relate all items together and highlight new synergies among members of the GABRIEL network. Similarities were found using a clustering algorithm and data were visualised using alluvial plots.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>This strategy enabled to find new patterns in the GABRIEL network for the implementation of new projects on global health, regardless of geographical proximity or historical connections. Five clusters based on core activities, consisting of 6, 1, 3, 9 and 2 research units, respectively, have been identified, with clusters 1 and 4, including the majority of the units. Four clusters have been defined based on the four major infectious diseases, comprising 7, 3, 5 and 6 research units, respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The same methodology could also be applied to identify proximities on other networks of experts or between members of different networks for more efficient research or surveillance global programmes.</p>","PeriodicalId":9137,"journal":{"name":"BMJ Global Health","volume":"10 5","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12086879/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144085612","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}