Health initiatives ‘backfiring’ in poor countries

GLOBAL health initiatives aimed at fighting major threats such as AIDS and malaria are showing signs of backfiring in the countries that most need their help, it was claimed yesterday.

Two reports from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and a team of US researchers point to serious shortcomings in the health programmes.

The WHO said, although global health initiatives (GHIs) had benefited millions, there was evidence they held back the health systems of poor countries.