bmj.com: Comment

Head to head: Should the NHS strive to eradicate all unexplained variation?

Variation exists in all aspects of health care. But should the NHS strive to eradicate all unexplained variation? Yes, says Stephen Richards,it is damaging to both quality of care and finances. No, says Richard Lilford, imposing uniformity risks stifling medical progress.

The Department and the NHS

Nigel Crisp, a former head of the NHS and former permanent secretary at the Department of Health, argues that the time has come for the health service to part company from politics and politicians. In this personal view, he says that by separating the two, "politicians would be free to concentrate on the wider issues of health rather than on running the NHS."

Population, gender, and climate change

The 2009 state of the world population report from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) tackles what UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has termed the greatest challenge facing humanity. In the lead-up to Copenhagen, where representatives of the world's nations will arrive to forge a new climate treaty, the UNFPA report highlights the need for governments to expand access to voluntary family planning and reproductive health, and to achieve equality between the sexes. Taking these steps and ensuring that women have a strong voice in all aspects of the climate discussion - as scientists, advocates, and policy makers - will contribute to the global challenge of reducing carbon emissions and helping people adapt to climate change.

Other comment published on 18 November 2009:

Is primary care research a lost cause?

Are the Conservatives serious?

How seriously should we be taking the Conservatives' plans for the NHS? At one level, obviously, very seriously indeed: they could well be the policy of the next government, within six months or so, writes Nigel Hawkes. However, he concludes that David Cameron's party is incoherent on its plans for the NHS.

Other comment published on 17 November 2009:

Review of the week: Politics, science, and the White House

Medical classic: The Moral Challenge of Alzheimer Disease

Des Spence; It shouldn't happen to a vet

Wendy Moore: Rhyme and reason

Theodore Dalrymple: An inside story

Legislation is needed to stop children using sunbeds

Sunbeds are putting an estimated quarter of a million 11-17 year olds in England at increased risk of developing malignant melanoma. Catherine Thomson and Chris Twelves warn that sunbeds raise serious issues, and they call for urgent legislation to stop children in England using sunbeds, as is already in place in Scotland and proposed for Wales.