A compromise proposal on a World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) waiver on intellectual property for the production of COVID-19 vaccines is ‘problematic’, ‘largely insufficient’, and WTO members should not be politically pressured into adopting the  text, several dozen civil society organisations said in an open letter published today.  The letter, addressed to European Commissioners, European members […] Continue reading ->
The World Health Organization (WHO)’s first pilot biohub facility in Spiez, Switzerland, has been able to provide laboratories around the world with biological materials with epidemic or pandemic potential in under nine days, according to a consultative meeting convened last week. The Spiez Biohub was set up according to an agreement between Switzerland and the WHO […] Continue reading ->
Despite the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on health systems worldwide, it is still possible for low and middle-income countries (LMICs) to reduce premature mortality from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) by a third between 2015 and 2030. This is the optimistic message from a new Lancet study in the ”NCD 2030 Countdown” series published Friday, […] Continue reading ->
The COVID-19 pandemic has shed light on how human health and ‘planetary health’ are inextricably linked – through deforestation, urbanization and climate change, all of which increase future disease risks. This year’s Geneva Health Forum explores these and other critical global health challenges, as well as emerging solutions,  just ahead of the World Health Assembly.    […] Continue reading ->