Major pharmaceutical companies have made minimal progress in expanding access to essential medicines since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an industry watchdog report released Tuesday. The 2024 Access to Medicine Index, which evaluates 20 of the world’s leading drugmakers, found that despite modest improvements from certain companies, the overall pace of change in improving availability […] Continue reading ->
Two million lives could be saved annually through urgent climate action, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared on Thursday in a stark message to negotiators ahead of next week’s climate summit in Baku, warning that rising temperatures are wreaking havoc on global health, disrupting healthcare systems and fueling disease outbreaks worldwide. The new WHO report, […] Continue reading ->
There is an urgent need for Africa to develop local manufacturing capabilities for Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) so as to reduce reliance on imports, enhance healthcare outcomes, and stimulate economic growth. But innovative technologies and international partnerships can help stimulate African pharma growth, revolutionize API production, and ensure self-sufficiency across the continent in a post-pandemic […] Continue reading ->
The Africa CDC has slammed the US government’s recent Level 3 travel advisory for Rwanda as unfair and baseless, arguing it undermines Rwanda’s proactive efforts to contain a Marburg outbreak. With rapid testing, vaccinations, and coordinated emergency response measures in place, Rwanda’s leaders insist the country poses no international threat and warn that travel restrictions […] Continue reading ->
Helen Rochford-Brennan, a 72-year-old Irish woman living with Alzheimer’s, was first diagnosed at 57, with a more complete diagnosis following five years later. At the time, there were no life-enhancing medications, leaving her to face the grim reality of her brain’s gradual decline, enduring what she described as “many dark days.” “Imagine having a new […] Continue reading ->
Investing in as little as $0.24 per patient per year in digital health interventions – telemedicine, mobile messaging, and chatbots – could significantly lower the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), says a new report from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Telecommunication Union (UTI). These interventions could avert 2 million deaths and 7 […] Continue reading ->
Geneva, Switzerland—The 2024 World Cancer Congress opened Tuesday in Geneva, bringing together more than 2,000 delegates from more than 120 countries. Its convener said the congress underscores a global commitment to combating the growing burden of cancer. Hosted by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC), the congress aims to foster collaboration amongst cancer and […] Continue reading ->