CHICAGO, Oct. 23 (UPI) -- More than 200 medical and scientific journals from 34 nations, including the United States, are joining to fight poverty and champion human development.

The publications, including the Journal of the American Medical Association, are simultaneously running articles on the critically important global topics, editorials in the October 24-31 issue of JAMA said.

The articles in this week’s issue of JAMA focus on a range of poverty- and development-related topics, including reports of new research addressing the need to target funding and programs for the poor.

There are also commentaries on microfinance programs and health; China’s health care system; health effects of declining U.S. income; innovation, licensing and global health; and disseminating global health change.

"We hope the articles and new research published this week by the world’s scientific journals will demonstrate the burgeoning success of efforts to conduct rigorous research on the health needs of the poor, to provide evidence-based solutions, and to target future funding and research on effective development programs that aim to reduce poverty and improve global health,” said Annette Flanagin and Dr. Margaret Winker of JAMA.