As of late April, China's state-run Xinhua news agency had reported 126 human cases of H7N9, a novel strain of bird flu that has been the cause of 24 deaths nationwide. In light of the unfolding events, NBR spoke with Jeremy Farrar (Oxford University) about the context of, and responses to, the outbreak.

China recently announced changes to the country's FDI catalog to encourage foreign investment in the healthcare sector. Benjamin Shobert (Rubicon Strategy Group) discusses China's healthcare reform efforts and opportunities for foreign investors.

Madhukar Pai (McGill University) discusses promising developments in global efforts to eliminate TB, including breakthroughs in diagnostics, a new FDA-approved drug, and renewed government commitment to work with the private sector on controlling TB in India, which struggles with the highest burden of TB in the world.

Victor Shi, Asia Pacific President of QIAGEN, addresses disease prevention efforts in developing countries and underscores the economic case for utilizing new diagnostic technologies to drastically reduce disease and maximize country resources.

Kenichi Matsumoto, Chairman and CEO, Sakura Global Holding Co. Ltd, discusses the current economic challenges, opportunities, and critical next steps for the health-related private sector in Japan, as the Japanese government, faced with a rapidly aging population, strives to reduce healthcare costs.

Sumie Ishii, Managing Director, Japanese Organization for International Cooperation in Family Planning (JOICFP), discusses the acute health needs that women faced, and continue to face, following the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. She also examines Japan’s successes and challenges in coordinating relief efforts between sectors.

India has the highest burden of TB in the world, and faces the ever-present threat of multi-drug resistant TB strains. Madhukar Pai (McGill University) discusses TB prevention efforts in India, focusing on recent breakthroughs in TB diagnostic technology and the current barriers to the adoption of effective diagnostic tools in the region.

With the increasing number of health technologies on the market, how can policymakers accurately assess the affordability of these technologies? David Heymann (Center on Global Health Security, Chatham House) discusses the key challenges in assessing affordability and sheds light on the potential impact of Asia’s increasing growth in domestic R&D and manufacturing of health technologies on emerging markets.

What factors are driving India’s emergence as a health technology leader? Kanav Kahol of the Public Health Foundation of India discusses the country’s thriving culture of innovation, its growing leadership in health-technology fields, and the future role of India and Asia in health technology development.

What global and domestic trends are pushing the Japanese pharmaceutical industry to look to emerging economies for new market potential? BT Slingsby of Eisai Co. discusses new business models, market trends, and the challenges and opportunities awaiting Japanese pharma in the developing world.

How will recent developments in pandemic flu preparedness better equip high-risk countries, such as those in Southeast Asia, for future outbreaks? NBR spoke with Dr. Peter Clevestig and Rachel Irwin of SIPRI about these questions and more, including the WHO’s new Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework and the interplay between human and animal health.

Why is a new global pricing framework for vaccines needed? NBR spoke with Ambassador Mark Dybul (Georgetown University) about these questions and more, including how the growth of middle-income nations like India and Indonesia renders the current model outdated and what the consequences will be if a new framework is not established.

Why does TB continue to prevail in Asia, and what are the implications of the recent World Health Organization (WHO) policy recommendation to ban blood tests to diagnose active TB? Dr. Mario Raviglione (Stop TB Department, WHO) addresses these questions and more, including what policymakers must do to curb the spread of TB.

Following last week’s 2011 Pacific Health Summit on vaccines, NBR spoke with Yot Teerawattananon (Thailand’s Health Intervention and Technology Assessment Program) about Thailand’s new national vaccine strategy. Dr. Teerawattananon discusses Thailand’s vaccine infrastructure, potential challenges to the plan, and the role of middle-income countries in vaccine manufacturing.

How can economic development serve as a powerful and effective tool for promoting security? Dr. Erfa Iqbal (Government of Pakistan) discusses specific development projects underway in rural Pakistan, the impact of these initiatives, and how governments and the private sector can best foster security through sustainable local economies.

How should the events of March 2011 influence Japan’s role as a global aid donor, as well as affect health system changes at home? NBR spoke with Dr. Kiyoshi Kurokawa (Health and Global Policy Institute) about this and other questions related to relief efforts and the Fukushima situation.

NBR spoke with Dr. Makoto Aoki about Japan’s healthcare needs and care coordination for affected populations following the March 11, 2011 crisis. Dr. Aoki explains that many of the challenges encountered in relief and recovery efforts point to core issues in Japan’s healthcare system and disaster preparedness planning, both of which he feels would benefit from reform.

In advance of the June 2011 Pacific Health Summit on vaccines, NBR spoke with Dr. Adel Mahmoud (Princeton University) about major trends and achievements in the vaccine field over the last two decades. Dr. Mahmoud explores the impact of, and challenges surrounding, new vaccines, including pricing policies, financial structures, and the increasingly prominent role of emerging market manufacturers.

In advance of the June 2011 Pacific Health Summit on vaccines, NBR spoke with Dr. Jiankang Zhang (PATH) about China’s vaccine industry and international engagement, and the implications of WHO "pre-qualification" of China’s national regulatory system for vaccines, which allows Chinese manufactured vaccines to compete for UN tenders.

In advance of the June 2011 Pacific Health Summit on vaccines, NBR Center for Health and Aging spoke with Dr. Nigel Darby (GE Healthcare), a key leader in the global healthcare and pharmaceutical industry, about the latest trends in the field of global vaccine development, manufacturing, and technology.

NBR's Center for Health and Aging spoke with Dr. Francesco Checchi (London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine), an expert on infectious disease surveillance and control in crisis-affected populations, about the health implications for Japan from the recent tsunami and the ongoing nuclear crisis in Fukushima. Read the interview.

Dr. Scott Davis has directed a joint partnership between his affiliate institutions and the Radiation Effects Research Foundation (RERF) in Hiroshima and overseen major research projects at the Chernobyl Power Station and the Hanford Nuclear Site. In this interview he discusses the potential radiation effects and other health impacts of Fukushima as well as lessons Chernobyl can offer.

“Leveraging Advances in Health IT” by NBR highlights observations and recommendations from leaders gathered at the August 2009 workshop on how health IT can help combat infectious diseases and improve health care delivery in the Asia-Pacific.

CHA’s library of Health Information and Technology (HIT) case studies for 2007 range from analyses of HIT adoption in different countries to overviews on key elements of HIT. Functional case studies on specific surveillance systems, for example, are also included.

"Scaling Up and Sustaining Nutrition Interventions: Lessons Learned from Success in the Asia-Pacific Region" by Micronutrient Initiative experts outlines experiences, opportunities, and lessons learned in scaling up interventions in the Asia-Pacific region to address the global burden of undernutrition. This paper is cited in the Progess Towards Nutrition document in the Gates Foundation "Living Proof" project.

“Leveraging Information and Communication Technologies for Sustainable Development in Rural India” by the Rural Technology Business Incubator (RTBI) explores one organization’s model and approach to development, and provides a brief analysis of lessons learned over the past few years.

In August NBR welcomed leaders from science, policy, and industry to Singapore to discuss how HIT can help combat infectious disease in the Asia-Pacific through improved disease surveillance and healthcare delivery. Emphasis was placed on avian influenza, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis. The APEC Health Working Group and the National Bureau of Asian Research co-presented the meeting.