The Lancet Regional Health: improving health outcomes in all corners of the world

Conflict in Ukraine, the economic crisis in Sri Lanka, climate change in the Pacific islands – each world region faces its own set of unique challenges. The same applies to health.

“These circumstances can be overlooked when focused on global needs,” says Hema Urban, Senior Editor of The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific. She continues, “The Lancet Regional Health journals make visible the pressing health issues in each world region by publishing high-quality, evidence-based research while considering an area’s diverse context and needs.”

The Lancet Regional Health initiative was officially launched in 2020 with the first issue of The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific. Since, titles for Europe, the Americas, and Southeast Asia have been introduced to act as “champions for change in the region”, provide “world-class editorial support and leadership”, and offer “unparalleled reach and visibility for regional research.”

The journals’ publications certainly spark dialogue. For example, in late 2022, a Comment in The Lancet Regional Health – Americas exposed a deficit of over 7 million COVID-19 vaccine doses due to delays in provision in Brazil and received national coverage. In the realm of social media, a Comment in The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific about the healthcare worker paradox in the Philippines saw significant pick-up on X (formerly Twitter), with users commenting on the urgent need to invest in retaining healthcare workers and enact systemic reform.

“The Lancet Regional Health journals make visible the pressing health issues in each world region by publishing high-quality, evidence-based research while considering an area’s diverse context and needs.”

What’s unique about The Lancet Regional Health suite is that editors are based in their respective world regions, with a deep understanding of the “homegrown” social, cultural, and political factors that impact health. Although the journals publish a range of content, each have region-specific focuses; maternal and child health for The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia and cardio-metabolic diseases for The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific.

“Our teams consist of members driven by values of social justice and passion for equity in health and health care. Authors from countries with limited research capacity have fed back positively on the opportunity and guidance we can provide,” says Jashelle Caga-Meller, Deputy Editor of The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific.

The editors’ recruitment of local peer-reviewers also allows for sociocultural factors to be considered in the appraisal of research. For example, reviewers of a publication assessing sexual satisfaction in older adults in China were able to highlight the study’s merits based on their understanding of local attitudes towards the subject.

“Our teams consist of members driven by values of social justice and passion for equity in health and health care.”

Over the last three years, The Lancet Regional Health initiative has made large strides – and expansion is in the pipeline. “We hope to launch journals focusing on Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean regions in the near future. All of the journals in the Regional Health suite support authors in publishing their research while being at the forefront of clinical practice and policy-making processes to advance health equity. Together, we are committed to this mission and amplifying the voices of our regions”, says Apoorv Suresh, Senior Editor of The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia.

To learn earn more about The Lancet Regional Health and how you can submit your paper, visit our dedicated webpage.

Recent highlights and coming up:

• As part of The Lancet’s 200th anniversary campaign, we are spotlighting research for health. Learn more about our related activities and content, including webinars and podcasts.
• International Board Advisory member, Dr Anurag Agarwal, reflects on one year of The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia in this In conversation with… podcast episode.
• A Series on climate change adaptation and health is due to be published by The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific later this year. The journal has also recently launched a new In conversation with… podcast series as part of The Lancet Group’s broader podcast offering.
• Apoorv Suresh, The Lancet Regional Health – Southeast Asia, will give a talk on scientific writing and publishing at the 3rd Indian Cancer Congress in Mumbai, November; he will also speak at the 48th Annual Meeting and International Conference of Indian Society of Human Genetics in Ahmedabad, January.
• Hema Urban, The Lancet Regional Health – Western Pacific, will attend the Australian and New Zealand Obesity Society Annual Scientific Meeting in October.