Improving health services for neglected tropical diseases

BMC Health Services Research is calling for submissions to our Collection on Improving health services for neglected tropical diseases.

Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) disproportionately affect marginalized populations, contributing to a cycle of poverty and health inequity. These diseases—which include Chagas disease, mycetoma, rabies, scabies, snakebite, soil-transmitted helminths, and others—often receive insufficient attention from global health initiatives, resulting in inadequate healthcare services, resources, and support for affected communities. This Collection aims to highlight research that focuses on innovative approaches to enhance health services for these neglected infections, thereby improving the health outcomes of populations at risk.

Addressing the challenges posed by NTDs is crucial for achieving broader health and development goals. Recent advances in disease control—including the development of new treatments, integrated care models, and improved diagnostics—demonstrate the potential for effective interventions. Furthermore, the increased global focus on health equity has led to enhanced collaborations among researchers, policymakers, and community organizations, creating opportunities for more effective responses to NTDs. Recognizing the unique health needs of affected populations will be essential for advancing equitable healthcare access.

This Collection welcomes submissions related to improving health services for populations at risk of NTDs. These health services may be at the level of the community (e.g., improving surveillance, coverage of mass drug administration, etc.), at the level of the health facility (e.g., provision of morbidity management, integrating NTD care into primary care, etc.), or at other levels of delivery, as relevant.

Topics for submission may include but are not limited to:

Strategies for improving healthcare services for Chagas disease

Integrated care models for managing NTDs

Innovations in treatment for rabies and scabies

Community engagement in soil-transmitted helminths programs

This Collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

All manuscripts submitted to this journal, including those submitted to collections and special issues, are assessed in line with our editorial policies and the journal’s peer review process. Reviewers and editors are required to declare competing interests and can be excluded from the peer review process if a competing interest exists.