Drones could be used to deliver medicines and protect vulnerable people, but major hurdles remain, finds Rodrigo de Oliveira Andrade.

Making access to science a human right is a worthy goal, but how can it be enshrined? And will it really deliver? Jan Piotrowski investigates.

Innovations in relief technologies are vital in the world's complex conflict zones. But there are barriers to overcome, writes Imogen Mathers.

Scientists in China and the United States are using modern biotechnology to help prove that traditional medicine has a powerful pharmacological value.

As commercial synthetic biology production gathers speed, there are growing calls for greater regulation, reports Yojana Sharma.

India has a heavy TB burden but has the technological capacity to deal with it. T.V. Padma reports.

More than 6,000 US clinical trials are now conducted overseas, and the number is quietly rising in South America.

New vaccines normally take years to reach developing countries, but the WHO hopes it can shorten the time drastically for dengue vaccine.

GAVI's model of giving "more and more money" is unsustainable and unaffordable, say critics.

Priya Shetty explores the tools and partnerships that help the public health community counter the threat of counterfeit medicines.

The fight against counterfeits is deploying scanners, spectrometers and minilabs, but nothing can replace national regulatory systems, says Yojana Sharma.

The Grand Challenges initiative has highlighted science's role in saving lives, but it will take longer to achieve concrete results, Bill Gates admits.

Can developing countries use nanotechnology to improve health? Priya Shetty looks at nanomedicine's promise.

Vaccines for non-infectious illness could help developing nations tackle the growing burden of chronic disease. Maryke Steffens reports.

Leading geneticist Samir Brahmachari explains why India should kickstart a new open source approach to drug discovery for diseases like TB.

Many factors are increasing antibiotic resistance, and authorities, doctors and patients all have a role in fighting it, writes Jia Hepeng.

As three Andean nations forge ahead with free trade agreements with the United States, Lisbeth Fog reports on the implications for healthcare, research and regional stability.

As production of flu drug Tamiflu gears up, big questions remain over how affordable — and effective — it will be, reports Martin Enserink.

SciDev.Net journalists report on efforts to face bird flu in Africa, the Middle East and Latin America.