Anniversary: 10 years at The Economist Group

10 years ago today I started at The Economist Group. My journey has taken me from Europe Editor at the height of the euro zone debt crisis to covering major global health challenges to leading projects on some of the most exciting sustainability issues of our time.

Cancer preparedness in Latin America: The need to build on recent progress

As a continuation of the global cancer preparedness project, for which I edited the main report, I edited a regional report focusing on Latin America.  The report looks at the diversity of the cancer challenge in Latin America, the current extent of efforts to address the disease, and the essential elements to building enhanced preparedness. 

Index of Cancer Preparedness reveals huge gaps in health system readiness and governance

This new index is a useful benchmarking tool to help policymakers and other key stakeholders to identify where their countries stand in cancer control compared with their peers and how they can boost their preparedness.

Why the fight against non-communicable diseases starts in adolescence

This new research highlights the need to address the root causes of NCDs as early as possible and to give young people a seat around the policy table.

Sweden offers both best practice and room for improvement on value-based healthcare

The way Sweden considers value in a number of different aspects of healthcare makes it a global leader in value-based healthcare (VBHC). Sweden’s experience with instituting VBHC underscores a number of key lessons.

Global healthy ageing challenges: The need for transformation

An article I edited looks at healthy ageing. Those interviewed for the article say that the key aim of governments and policymakers should be looking at ways to improve the quality of life of older people and help them to stay well and independent for longer.

Colombia visit: Presenting at three major health-system events

In September/October 2018 I presented at three major health-system conferences in Colombia, speaking about lung cancer, healthcare innovation and self-care opportunities.

Insufficient policy response impedes lung-cancer control in Latin America

In September 2018 I went to Bogotá to present a new important research programme at The Economist Events' War on Cancer Latin America conference. Our study assesses the policy response to the deadliest cancer in the region.

Behavioural economics in healthcare: making sense of emotional drivers of decision-making

In July 2018 I moderated a very interesting webinar on behavioural economics in healthcare, organised by The Economist Events. The discussion was based on a report on preventative care and behavioural science:, analysing the emotional drivers of healthcare decisions.

Trip to India to present about self-care and meet colleagues

On February 16th 2018 I gave a keynote address for the session “Emerging global trends in self-care and relevance of OTC regulatory framework for Indian public healthcare system” as part of the India Pharma & India Medical Device 2018 conference organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry. The presentation was part...

Inequality in access to care undermines cancer-control efforts in Latin America

In July 2017 a study I edited was released: a major report on cancer control in Latin America, with a focus on inequality in access to care. The report is based on the Latin America Cancer Control Scorecard (LACCS), which assesses cancer-control policies and programmes in 12 Latin American countries. 

Index highlights need for political and financial commitment to improving access to healthcare

In June 2017 I presented the results of a major new index on global access to healthcare at a conference organised by The Economist Events.

Significant policy gaps exist for delivering integrated care for people living with heart disease

In May 2017 a study on global heart health that I edited was published following a pre-launch at a major heart health conference in London in November 2016.

Cancer survivors need more integrated care pathways

In late 2016 I led a significant new research programme on cancer survivorship, which was  published in early 2017.

Developing countries are ill-equipped to manage the growing chronic-disease burden

For Davos 2017 The Economist Intelligence Unit has released a new report on the impact of non-communicable diseases in developing countries. I was the lead editor of the study.

Confronting obesity in Europe: Taking action to change the default setting

In this report that I edited, we look at the current national and EU-level approaches to obesity policy, identify the weaknesses in current efforts, and discuss how strategies might be adapted to confront the scale of the obesity problem more effectively.

Confronting obesity in the Middle East: Cultural, social and policy challenges

A combination of major lifestyle and dietary changes over the past few decades, harsh weather conditions that limit outdoor activities and a genetic predisposition has led to an obesity crisis in many parts of the Middle East. A report on this topic that I edited has just been published.

Value-based healthcare in Europe

Value-based healthcare looks at health outcomes of treatment relative to cost. In a series of reports that I edited we examined the way in which value is interpreted across Europe, the extent to which European countries are adopting cost-effectiveness as a key criterion for assessing it, and the efforts to develop new pricing models.

Diabetes in the Gulf: The policy challenge

A report that I edited assesses the current status and potential impact of diabetes in the six Gulf Co-operation Council states—Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE; reviews current approaches to tackling the disease in the region; and explores further possible opportunities to help combat diabetes.