Social security: we discuss the news that Asia-Pacific governments spend too little on social protection, leaving the poorest people most vulnerable. Also this week, nosocomial infections in Europe, yoga in American schools...

Chimpan-free: Do we still need chimpanzees for biomedical research? We talk to the chairman of the IOM committee advising the US NIH. Also, quitting smoking before surgery, breast cancer prevention in the UK, and synthetic drugs.

Sniffing out TB: In a special report we explore a project in Tanzania that uses giant African pouched rats as a novel diagnostic technique for TB, and ask just how viable is the approach?...

Worms and germs: we look at what's caught our eye this week in the Lancet family (including some rather nasty eye worms), give you the latest developments on Guantanamo and illicit drug use in Paksitan...

Go big or go home: Big data is on the agenda this week as we give you the low down on a new global alliance for the sharing of genomic and clinical data...

Hunger bites: Half a million people in the UK relied on emergency food handouts last year. Our special report looks at why...

Smarties have the answer: Or do they? Although no evidence exists that so-called study drugs (drugs for ADHD) improve exam results, their use is on the rise among teens in America...

Relief in sight: Ukraine finally allows patients to receive strong pain killers. Also, we ask if drug packaging should state whether animals were used in testing...

28 too many: Female genital mutilation is practiced in 28 countries in Africa. We speak with a new charity that aims to cut this number down to zero. Also in the podcast, yet another new virus and a call to action from the Schizophrenia Fellowship.

Healthy choices? North Korea edges towards a food shortage while Bolivia expels USAID, and the US FDA appeals against a Federal court ordering it to prescribe levonorgestrel to all ages...