Risks And Ultimate Rewards: Innovative Ways To Beat Chronic Diseases

28/09/2018 Health Policy Watch

Thomas Cueni writes: It’s often hard to see progress when the realities surrounding you are bleak: non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the world’s biggest killer, responsible for around 70 percent of global deaths. Each year some 40 million people die of such chronic diseases as cardiovascular failure, cancer, respiratory illnesses and diabetes: the four main killers. Tragically, they take the lives of as many as 15 million people in their most productive period, between 25 and 65. Worse, many of these deaths are entirely preventable. Prevention and innovation are the two key weapons in the fight against NCDs. Continue reading ->

UN General Assembly Adopts High-Level Political Declaration On Noncommunicable Diseases

27/09/2018 David Branigan

NEW YORK -- The United Nations General Assembly is meeting today for the Third High-Level Meeting on Noncommunicable Diseases, and has adopted an ambitious political declaration, entitled “Time to Deliver: Accelerating our response to address NCDs for the health and well-being of present and future generations.” Continue reading ->

World Leaders Commit To End Tuberculosis At Historic United Nations Meeting

27/09/2018 David Branigan

NEW YORK -- World leaders and senior representatives came together today for the first-ever High-Level Meeting on the Fight to End Tuberculosis at United Nations headquarters in New York. At the meeting, heads of state adopted a political declaration with commitments to accelerate action and funding to end the tuberculosis epidemic by 2030. Continue reading ->

United Nations Meeting On Noncommunicable Diseases: “A Make Or Break Moment”

20/09/2018 David Branigan

After falling short of achieving commitments made at the first and second United Nations high-level meetings on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in recent years, the third high-level meeting on NCDs taking place next week presents an opportunity for world leaders to either step up their response, or risk falling further behind, according to stakeholders. Continue reading ->

Budget Shortfalls Cripple Health Services In Tanzania Public Hospitals

19/09/2018 Kizito Makoye

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania -- The scene of a pregnant woman screaming while giving birth on the cold-tiled floor of Sumbawanga district Hospital in Tanzania’s southwest highlands, three years ago, evokes horribly vivid memories for Jesca Chokala, who was barely able to help her. Continue reading ->

New WHO Report: Progress Must Accelerate To Beat Tuberculosis

19/09/2018 David Branigan

NEW YORK -- Steady progress will simply not be enough in the fight against tuberculosis, according to a new report on TB released by the World Health Organization. Instead, the report calls for accelerated progress in order to meet the WHO End TB Strategy and UN Sustainable Development Goal targets on the disease by 2030. Continue reading ->

UN Negotiated Deal On Tuberculosis Declaration Stands

18/09/2018 David Branigan

The negotiated deal over the language of the United Nations political declaration on tuberculosis, a landmark in the fight against TB, has been maintained by member states and finalised on 14 September, marking the end of intense negotiations over language on access to medicines in the document. Continue reading ->

EXCLUSIVE: Senior UN Official On Syria Calls For An End To Attacks On Health Facilities As International Efforts Mount To Avert Another Humanitarian Catastrophe Over Looming Battle For Idleb

14/09/2018 John Zarocostas

Panos Moumtzis, Assistant UN Secretary-General and Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis (since September 2017) spoke to Health Policy Watch in an exclusive interview Thursday about the escalating crisis in the Syrian conflict, the continued attacks on health care facilities and the mounting international humanitarian and diplomatic efforts to try and avert another humanitarian catastrophe in the war-torn nation. But he also warned he fears the worst might still be ahead of us over the looming battle for Idleb. Continue reading ->

New R&D Models And Incentives Necessary To Step Up Fight Against AMR, EU Parliament Declares

13/09/2018 Monika Ermert

The European Parliament has called on the Commission to do more in the fight against antimicrobial resistance in a resolution passed on 13 September in Strasbourg with an overwhelming majority (589 in favour, 12 against, 36 abstentions). Continue reading ->

Asia-Pacific: Two Initiatives To Eliminate Malaria Once And For All

13/09/2018 Leila Ueberschlag

For the first time in history, the elimination of malaria is within reach in the Asia Pacific, according to experts. The world is, indeed, witnessing unprecedented progress in the global effort to eliminate the disease. However, some challenges – such as a looming funding gap that threatens critical malaria-elimination – put at risk the recent improvement. Continue reading ->