Dear HIFA colleagues,
The Lancet is launching its first Commission dedicated to global skin health, with the International League of Dermatological Societies as a key participant. (ILDS is one of HIFA's 27 partner organisations - www.hifa.org/partners) See my note below on the potential to address this topic on HIFA.
This interview sets the scene:
Q&A: Lancet to convene first commission dedicated to global skin health
April 20, 2026
https://www.healio.com/news/dermatology/20260420/qa-lancet-to-convene-fi...
'Imagine you are a patient in Rwanda with a skin disease. There are about 14 dermatologists in the whole country of Rwanda; all but one are in the capital city, Kigali. Now, imagine you are in a remote area of Rwanda, you have a skin disease and you try to find a health care professional who can diagnose you and know how to treat you.'
Here is the news item on the ILDS website:
ILDS Advisor Esther Freeman writes: 'We’re deeply grateful to The Lancet for the opportunity to underscore that skin health is integral to overall health. Gathering voices from across the globe provides an unparalleled opportunity to unite our perspectives and work collectively on the most pressing skin health challenges of our time.'
Prestigious Lancet Commission heralds new era for global dermatology
27 Feb 2026
https://www.ilds.org/news-events/news/Lancet-Commission-Skin-Health/
and here is the announcement in The Lancet:
The Lancet, Volume 407, Issue 10536p1313-1315April 04, 2026
The Lancet Commission on Skin Health: aligning with WHO priorities
Yi Xiaoa et al
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(26)00365-X/fulltext
They write: 'Skin diseases affect an estimated 4·7–4·9 billion people globally, ranking among the leading causes of years lived with disability worldwide.1–3 They also contribute 1·79% to the global burden of disability-adjusted life-years,4 underscoring that skin health is a core component of population health rather than a niche specialty... less than half of affected individuals are estimated to have access to adequate dermatological care...
In May, 2025, for the first time, WHO member states adopted a resolution recognising skin diseases as a global public health priority at the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA 78.15), consistent with the commitment to achieve universal health coverage
'The Commission will be guided by a set of interlinked questions that include three areas. First, what is the preventable and addressable burden of skin disease across regions and the life course...? Second, what measurable targets and delivery models can accelerate progress towards universal health coverage for skin health...? Third, what constitutes an essential package of core skin health services, spanning prevention, education, point-of-care diagnostics, access to essential medicines, digital and teledermatology services, and psychosocial support?'
COMMENT (NPW): I shall try to find out how the Commission will 'gather voices across the globe'. This is conventionally done through online surveys. Communities of practice like HIFA can complement this with dynamic, structured thematic discussions.
HIFA stands ready to support the Commission by gathering voices across the world, with a focus on how to advance evidence-informed skin care in different settings. We would look at self-care and prevention; community care (for example, what is the current situation regarding skin care by CHWs?); and facility-based care. What are the major weaknesses in the six components of the global evidence ecosystem in relation to skin care, and how can they be addressed? How can we improve public awareness of skin disorders and reduce stigma? See our Projects page for an overview of our tried-and-tested approach: www.hifa.org/projects Interested to support a HIFA project on meeting information needs for skin care? Contact me: neil@hifa.org
Best wishes, Neil
HIFA profile: Neil Pakenham-Walsh is coordinator of HIFA (Healthcare Information For All), a global health community that brings all stakeholders together around the shared goal of universal access to reliable healthcare information. HIFA has 20,000 members in 180 countries, interacting in four languages and representing all parts of the global evidence ecosystem. HIFA is administered by Global Healthcare Information Network, a UK-based nonprofit in official relations with the World Health Organization. Email: neil@hifa.org