European Union Pushes for Stronger Air Pollution Rules

19/01/2023 Stefan Anderson

At least 300,000 people lose their lives to air pollution each year across the European Union, and the bloc is pushing to tighten air quality regulations as part of its Green New Deal legislative package. The new rules aim to reduce the number of premature deaths and illness caused by air pollution, as well as […] Continue reading ->

EU to Release Communication on Second Global Health Strategy Plan by December

29/09/2022 Stefan Anderson

“This is really a historic meeting,” said Dr Ilona Kickbusch, co-chair of the European Health Forum at Gastein (EHFG). “Twenty years ago was the very first time there was any talk of a European global health strategy, and it took place right here at Gastein.” “It was in 2003 that global health first became a part […] Continue reading ->

Efficiency and Innovation Key to Addressing Europe’s Health System Woes

28/09/2022 Megha Kaveri

Budgetary efficiency and innovative ways to finance health emerged as key solutions to the problems plaguing the European health systems, according to a panel at the European Health Forum in Bad Gastein on Tuesday. Europe’s healthcare system is faced with several bottlenecks, said panelists. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated problems such as a lack of […] Continue reading ->

European Medicines Agency Considers Extension of Smallpox Vaccine Use for Monkeypox

28/06/2022 Elaine Ruth Fletcher

The European Medicines Agency is considering the extension of the use of the smallpox vaccine Imvanex to include people at risk of Monkeypox disease, the agency said on Tuesday. Imvanex is a modified form of the vaccinia virus, which is related to smallpox and currently authorised in the European Union (EU) for the prevention of […] Continue reading ->

South Africa Says ‘No Hesitation’ on Joining African Medicines Agency – WHO Head Tours Cape Town mRNA Vaccine Hub

11/02/2022 Kerry Cullinan

Speaking during a tour by WHO’s Director General of Cape Town’s new mRNA vaccine R&D hub that replicated the Moderna COVID vaccine, South Africa’s Health Minister affirms support for the continental-wide medicines regulatory authority. CAPE TOWN – South Africa’s Health Minister signalled that his country intends to join the African Medicines Agency – but that […] Continue reading ->

Breaking: Majority of African Countries Have Now Signed African Medicines Agency Treaty, Enabling Better Access to Newer, Safer Medicines

05/11/2021 Kerry Cullinan & Elaine Ruth Fletcher

Signatories to the new African Medicines Agency Treaty have now reached 28 countries – more than half of the African Union’s 55 member states – with the balance tipping as Uganda signed the treaty instrument last week. On Friday, 5 November, after more than a decade of preparations, the African Medicine Agency (AMA) treaty […] Continue reading ->

New Social Contract and One Health Approach Critical to Resilient Recovery from COVID Pandemic

01/10/2021 Madeleine Hoecklin

A new social contract between European governments and their citizens is needed to lay the foundation for a resilient and sustainable recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, with health at the center, said panelists at the closing session of the European Health Forum Gastein (EHFG) on Friday. A focus on ensuring social protection and equitable access […] Continue reading ->

Multilateralism Failed Africa; Regionalism May Work Better – Africa CDC Deputy Head at European Health Forum Gastein

27/09/2021 Elaine Ruth Fletcher

Multilateralism has “failed” to help Africa solve the COVID crisis and regional approaches to solving common problems could help the continent forge a “new public health order” said Africa Centers for Disease Control Deputy Director Ahmed Ogwell Ouma, speaking at the opening of the European Health Forum- Gastein. His statement at at the traditionally “Eurocentric” […] Continue reading ->

As 70% of EU Adults are Vaccinated, Europe Proposes New Travel Restrictions

31/08/2021 Kerry Cullinan

As the European Union (EU) announced on Tuesday that 70% of its adults had been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, it recommended reimposing restrictions on travellers from the US, Israel, Kosovo, Lebanon, Montenegro, and North Macedonia. On 8 June, the six were included on an EU Council list of “safe countries” identified for the relaxing of […] Continue reading ->

15 European Countries Recognize India’s Covishield Vaccine for EU Travel Pass; Only 10 Adopt All WHO-Approved Jabs

08/07/2021 Svĕt Lustig Vijay & Elaine Ruth Fletcher

Nearly half of the 31 European nations using the European Union’s new digital COVID travel certificate have recognized the India-made version of the AstraZeneca vaccine, Covishield, alongside its European-made counterpart, Vaxzevria, an analysis by Health Policy Watch has revealed. But other major countries, including France, Poland, and Italy, seem to be holding out, authorizing only […] Continue reading ->