We are delighted to host Prof. Priya Abraham, former Director of the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, and former Head of Virology, CMC Vellore @CSCR_CMC_inStem for an engaging and insightful talk on: "Waging a War Against an Unseen Enemy- A Story of the Multi-pronged Fight against the Viruses"📷 Date: March 27th, 2025📷 Time: 8:20 AM 📷 Venue: Centre for Stem Cell Research (a unit of inStem, Bengaluru), CMC Vellore, Bagayam Campus Don't miss this opportunity to engage with one of the leading voices in virology!📷 #Virology# #PublicHealth# #VirusResearch# #CSCR# #CMCVellore# #ScienceForHealth# #InfectiousDiseases# Zoom Link: https://t.co/8NAjvYI6s7 Meeting ID: 831 4871 1203 Passcode: 021265

DOGE: The NIH has been funnelling millions to an NGO, The Center for Innovative Public Health Research, which sends text messages to children about topics like sex toys, lesbian sex, and transgender sex, while encouraging the children to keep it secret from their parents.

Economics 101: When there are significant externalities, as with public health, private incentives alone don't lead to socially optimal choices or outcomes. That's one reason we typically have public health policies set by governments. #EconTwitter#

Almost 700,000 federal workers have been illegally stripped of their collective bargaining rights literally overnight. These workers care for our veterans, keep our food and water safe, protect our public health and basically run our federal government. This union-busting is unprecedented. Working men and women in our country deserve better. We can’t sit back and allow President Trump and his billionaire boys club to destroy our rights as workers and union members.

Using the framework of medical populism, my paper analyzing the political responses of Jair Bolsonaro, Rodrigo Duterte, and Donald Trump to the COVID-19 pandemic has just been published in Global Public Health. Full text: https://t.co/41d9goYhVa https://t.co/ApDdyWMbPr

I wish to address Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu's Executive Order on the Social Health Insurance Scheme that mandates a ₦15,000 monthly contribution from every Lagos resident. While I acknowledge the good intentions behind universal health coverage, this flat-rate approach reveals a fundamental disconnect from the economic realities facing most Lagosians. For minimum wage earners, this ₦15,000 monthly contribution represents nearly 20% of their income—an unsustainable burden that will push many further into economic hardship. Simultaneously, this same flat rate is insignificant for middle and upper-income earners, creating an inherently regressive system. I propose instead a proportional 5% contribution of monthly income, which would distribute the financial responsibility more equitably across income levels while ensuring sustainable funding for the scheme. However, we must address the elephant in the room and resist the urge to place the cart before the horse. According to a recent statement by the Lagos State Commissioner of Health, Lagos suffers from a deficit of 30,000 doctors. Therefore, before mandating and enforcing such an Executive Order, substantial investment in healthcare infrastructure and personnel is imperative. The alarming statistics speak for themselves—according to a 2016 report (with conditions likely worse today), Lagos has: 5,014 persons to 1 general medical doctor 2,942 persons to 1 specialist 2,165 persons to 1 nurse 5,117 persons to 1 midwife These ratios are dramatically higher than the recommended doctor-to-population ratio of 1:600, clearly demonstrating the lack of priority given to public health in our state. Consequently, the Sanwo-Olu administration must adopt the 2014 Abuja Declaration, which recommends allocating 15% of the state budget to healthcare. In 2024, the Lagos State government fell short of this laudable vision by allocation 6.75% of its budget to healthcare. Without significant investment in healthcare professionals through better compensation and career development, alongside substantial upgrades to medical facilities and equipment, this insurance scheme risks becoming merely another financial burden on Lagosians without delivering the promised healthcare improvements. True healthcare reform requires both sustainable funding mechanisms and robust healthcare delivery systems. I call on the Governor to reconsider this Executive Order and engage in meaningful dialogue with healthcare professionals, economic experts, and community representatives to develop a more equitable and effective approach to universal health coverage in Lagos State.