Innovations and challenges in global health: a multidisciplinary perspective
Year: 2026
Type: editorial
Abstract: Global health is at a pivotal juncture, marked by unparalleled technological advancements alongside persistent structural inequities. This editorial serves as an introduction to a special issue titled Innovations and challenges in global health: a multidisciplinary perspective, which aims to encompass the expansive scope of contemporary global health discussions. These range from clinical medicine and epidemiology to health policy, digital health, medical anthropology, and implementation science. The issue features original research that delves into how innovations are developed, adapted, and sometimes falter when applied across varying resource environments, cultural landscapes, and health system frameworks. The issue includes four published articles covering diverse yet interconnected areas of global health: laparoscopic gastric cancer surgery in Vietnam, patterns of inpatient urology morbidity in Vietnam, three-dimensional breast augmentation assessments in Vietnam, determinants of pregnancy termination among married women in Lesotho and a narrative review on robot-assisted gait training for stroke recovery in Malaysia. Complementing these studies are forthcoming manuscripts addressing critical topics such as infectious disease control, maternal and child health, mental health services, digital health technologies, and health financing reforms. Collectively, these contributions strive to present a holistic, interdisciplinary snapshot of the current state of global health and to identify pathways for equitable and sustainable improvement. This editorial highlights several key themes that emerged across the contributions. These include the necessity of innovation tailored to specific contexts, the critical importance of strengthening health systems, the value of measuring both patient-centred and population-level outcomes, the need to enhance fertility awareness and reproductive health literacy, and the vital role of authentic partnerships between the Global North and South as well as within the Global South itself. By weaving these themes together, the editorial sets forth a forward-looking agenda for multidisciplinary research that can effectively address the pressing challenges in global health while fostering progress that benefits all communities equitably.
Source: Pan African Medical Journal
Authors: Osman Alipour, Bisotoon Azizi
Language: English
Topic: Global Health and Surgery
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $180
OpenAlex ID: W7204471397