These realities are often overlooked in global health targets. They used country-specific data, including anaemia prevalence, health system capacity and how much each country can cost-effectively afford to spend on public health. These variations underscore the need for country-specific goals rather than uniform global targets, ensuring public health resources are directed where they can make the most difference. A global anaemia database and expanded health surveys would help close this data gap and improve decision-making. The enduring impact of its discoveries is amplified by its successful Academic Medicine partnership with Singapore Health Services (SingHealth), Singapore’s largest healthcare group.