A new World Bank survey has found that healthcare, nutrition, and population programmes in developing countries often fail to reach the poorest people. It says strategies that deliver better results are urgently needed.

Drawing on 12 case studies in 11 countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, the report found that the richest 20% of the population received more than the poorest 20%–or as much as the poorest 20% in the case of government subsidised services for mothers and children.

The report says this discrepancy must be addressed, but it also cautions that a search for a few universal optimal strategies “could well turn out to be …