Colombia’s Minister of Health has asked the country’s patent office to issue a compulsory licence for an antiretroviral drug, dolutegravir, which is still protected by a patent issued to ViiV Healthcare. Minister of Health and Social Protection Guillermo Alfonso Jaramillo issued a Declaration of Public Interest on Wednesday indicating that he was taking this step […] Continue reading ->
The Mauritius Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that a colonial-era law criminalising consensual sexual relations between men is “unconstitutional” and should be struck from the country’s criminal code with immediate effect. According to Section 250 of the Mauritian Criminal Code, men convicted of same-sex relations could be jailed for a maximum of five years. The […] Continue reading ->
The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Eastern Mediterranean region (EMRO) is struggling to address “an unprecedented number of health emergencies” driven by state fragility and conflict, climate-change-related extreme weather events, mass displacement and economic disparities”, regional director Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari told a media briefing on Wednesday. The most pressing immediate problems involve assisting Libya after its […] Continue reading ->
It’s likely to be a mad sprint to submit amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) by the World Health Assembly (WHA) next May, according to the working group overseeing this process, which is meeting for the fifth time this week. Meanwhile, the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) is expected to release a new draft of the pandemic […] Continue reading ->
German Ministers urge more investment in the Pandemic Fund and universal health coverage at a high-level pandemic preparedness meeting  Even if vaccines and medicines are developed at record speed to address the next ominous global pathogen, they cannot prevent a pandemic without strong health systems to deliver them, stressed politicians and health leaders at a […] Continue reading ->
After working in prestigious international positions, Nigeria’s new health minister has returned to rebuild the health system of Africa’s most populous country. Excitement turned to disappointment in the global health sector when Dr Muhammad Ali Pate was announced as CEO-designate of the global vaccine alliance, Gavi, then withdrew six weeks before assuming the position. Pate […] Continue reading ->