Negotiations for a pandemic agreement currently underway in Geneva have made little progress over the past four days, with member states still reading the current revised draft in plenary, and there is now talk of a further meeting in late April. Co-chairs of the process believe that the best way forward is for member states […] Continue reading ->
Pharmaceutical giants could support a formula whereby companies are guaranteed free and immediate access to pathogens with pandemic potential in exchange for binding equity agreements as part of a proposed World Health Organization (WHO) pandemic agreement, says a leading industry figure. The statement by Thomas Cueni, director-general of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers […] Continue reading ->
Tuberculosis has long been the neglected stepchild of global health – but new diagnostic tools and treatments, artificial intelligence (AI) and debt swaps to help countries meet their targets have come into play and are making a difference. “There is fresh momentum,” says Dr Jamie Tonsing, Senior TB advisor at the Global Fund, in a […] Continue reading ->
Over the last century, Europe – including Northern, Western, Southern and Central European countries – made remarkable progress in the near elimination of tuberculosis (TB) due to improved socio-economic conditions and advancements in research and development. However, a recent surge of TB in Europe, coupled with lack of structural preparedness within many European Union (EU) […] Continue reading ->
Heatwaves, floods, wildfires, and droughts unleashed global mayhem in 2023, as the year broke multiple climate records, according to the World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) State of the Global Climate Report released this week. It was the hottest year in recorded history, with global average near-surface temperature of 1.45℃ above the pre-industrial baseline. “Never have we […] Continue reading ->
An effort by Gambia’s parliament to reintroduce female genital mutilation (FGM) has been met with widespread condemnation by women’s and human rights organisations. Gambia’s Members of Parliament voted overwhelmingly this week to refer the Private Member’s Bill that seeks to repeal the Women’s (Amendment) Act of 2015 that banned FGM to parliament’s business committee for […] Continue reading ->
A Phase 3 trial of a tuberculosis vaccine candidate has been launched in South Africa, according to the Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute (Gates MRI). The candidate vaccine – referred to as M72/AS01E – “could potentially become the first vaccine to help prevent pulmonary TB in adolescents and adults, the most common form […] Continue reading ->
Discussion about disease outbreaks dominated the biannual meeting of the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) – which its chairperson described as “alarming” as the aim of the group is to ensure early vaccination to prevent outbreaks. “The outbreak-related recommendations is a sign that normalcy is starting to be living with outbreaks,” warned Dr Hanna […] Continue reading ->
Seven Indian pharmaceutical companies made donations to domestic political parties while they were under investigation for substandard drug production, according to an investigation published in Scroll. The companies named in the investigation included Hetero Labs and Hetero Healthcare, Torrent Pharma, Zydus Healthcare, Glenmark, Cipla, IPCA Laboratories Limited, and Intas Pharmaceutical. They were under investigation for […] Continue reading ->
Twenty years ago, the sight of women, men and children being carried to hospitals in wheelbarrows as they clung to the fragile threads of life, was heartbreakingly common. AIDS was not just a disease. It was a shadow of despair that loomed over our communities, threatening to engulf us in darkness. But then, in a […] Continue reading ->