As many voices in Europe are getting louder about the increasing threat of medicines shortages, the European Medicines Agency and the Heads of Medicines Agencies task force on improving the availability of medicines in Europe just released its 2019/2020 work programme. Working groups tasked to tackle specific issues as well as a multi-stakeholder workshop in November are being set up. Continue reading ->
A record more than 41,000 children and adults in the World Health Organization European Region have been infected with measles - one of the most vaccine-preventable infectious diseases known to man – in the first 6 months of 2018, according to a newly published WHO press release. The total number for this period far exceeds the 12-month totals reported for every other year this decade, and this has policymakers grasping for ways to address the rise, while a WHO official says elimination is possible. Continue reading ->
“Whether or not there is an adequate supply of generic biological drugs available will be crucial to ensuring the economic viability of health systems in both developing and developed countries.” So writes the South Centre – an intergovernmental organisation that helps developing countries to combine their efforts and expertise to promote their common interests in the international arena – in a newly published Policy Brief dedicated to the international debate on generic medicines of biological origin. Continue reading ->
Some 8 million people living in remote areas in Liberia, Uganda and Kenya will get support to access lifesaving vaccines, as a result of a new partnership between Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Audacious Project, Last Mile Health and Living Goods. The aim is to use digital technology to boost the number of community health workers as well as to integrate immunization information and data-capture into their daily routines. Continue reading ->