Washington Call to ‘Redouble Efforts’ on SARS-CoV2 Virus Origins Investigation – But Will There be Action at WHA? 27/05/2021 Elaine Ruth Fletcher Amidst fresh calls from US President Joe Biden ordering the science and intelligence community to come up with a more detailed account of how the SARS-CoV2 virus emerged – it’s unclear how much action the World Health Assembly will really see on the issue. Language in the the final-agreed draft of a WHA resolution, Strengthening […] Continue reading -> China Sidesteps COVAX Vaccine Donations; Africa Highlights Pandemic Fallout on Health Systems & Societies 27/05/2021 Paul Adepoju China told the World Health Assembly on Wednesday it will continue to support developing countries’ access to affordable COVID-19 vaccines – but it stopped short of any commitment to supplying its recently-approved Sinopharm vaccine to the WHO co-sponsored Global COVAX vaccine facility. WHO officials had said they hoped China would join the COVAX facility, following […] Continue reading -> Travel Restrictions & Other Cross-Border Pandemic Control Measures Need More Coordination 26/05/2021 Raisa Santos Controlling a disease outbreak requires cooperation both behind borders and between countries, experts said at a Wednesday event co-organised by the Geneva Graduate Institute’s Global Health Centre. And one key, neglected area of international cooperation has been travel restrictions, where countries worldwide have created a cacophony of different measures to control COVID. “Travel measures are […] Continue reading -> Israeli – Palestinian Conflict Blocks Full Day At World Health Assembly 26/05/2021 Elaine Ruth Fletcher A longstanding dispute over a perennial World Health Assembly resolution on the health situation in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories claimed a full day of WHA delegates’ attention – as countries on both sides of the bitter conflict battled over a draft decision in a prolonged debate, leading up to a painstaking virtual vote by roll […] Continue reading -> Independent Oversight Committee: WHO Needs Stronger Base of Finance and Authority For More Robust Pandemic Response 25/05/2021 Chandre Prince Bold decisions are required to strengthen the World Health Organization and equip it with authority and resources it needs to address glaring shortcomings in pandemic preparedness and response, the 74th World Health Assembly was told on Tuesday. Recommendations emerging out of a report by the Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee (IOAC) for the WHO Health […] Continue reading -> Despite Recent Sharp Declines in New Cases, Global COVID Situation “Remains Highly Unstable,” Says WHO 25/05/2021 Madeleine Hoecklin The number of pandemic-related cases and deaths have rapidly accelerated in the first four months of 2021, said WHO officials on the second day of the 74th World Health Assembly – and despite sharp declines seen in almost every region over the four weeks, the situation remains “fragile.” The “highly unstable” global epidemiological situation, combined […] Continue reading -> Pandemic Treaty Discussion Deferred With Appeals for High-Level Political Commitment to Fix WHO 25/05/2021 Kerry Cullinan Key World Health Organization (WHO) member states agreed to postpone a potentially polarising discussion on a ‘pandemic treaty’ until November, according to a World Health Assembly ‘draft decision’ published Tuesday. The proposal – by 26 entities including the European Union, USA, UK and key countries from each WHO region – specifies that a special […] Continue reading -> COVID Exacerbating Severe Violence Against Health Workers 24/05/2021 Madeleine Hoecklin An unprecedented number of healthcare workers were seriously assaulted last year, even as health workers risked their lives on the front lines of the COVID-19 response. Over 412 COVID-related attacks on health workers, including kidnappings and murders, occurred between January and December 2020, experts reported at a World Health Assembly side event. The session Monday […] Continue reading -> Tedros Secures Europe’s Help to Boost WHO Pandemic Capacity Ahead of WHA 24/05/2021 Kerry Cullinan Strengthening the World Health Organization’s pandemic response is a key focus of the 74th World Health Assembly, which started on Monday – and WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has already secured agreements with powerful European member states to do just that. WHA discussion on a report from the Independent Panel on Pandemic Preparedness […] Continue reading -> The 1 Billion Dose Wager on the IP Waiver 21/05/2021 Elaine Ruth Fletcher & Svĕt Lustig Vijay Rich countries need to cough up 1 billion vaccine doses by September, and big pharma should significantly expand its network of voluntary license sharing and manufacturing – in order to avoid a vote by World Trade Organization members on a controversial proposal to waive all COVID-related intellectual property for the duration of the pandemic. That […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts
China Sidesteps COVAX Vaccine Donations; Africa Highlights Pandemic Fallout on Health Systems & Societies 27/05/2021 Paul Adepoju China told the World Health Assembly on Wednesday it will continue to support developing countries’ access to affordable COVID-19 vaccines – but it stopped short of any commitment to supplying its recently-approved Sinopharm vaccine to the WHO co-sponsored Global COVAX vaccine facility. WHO officials had said they hoped China would join the COVAX facility, following […] Continue reading -> Travel Restrictions & Other Cross-Border Pandemic Control Measures Need More Coordination 26/05/2021 Raisa Santos Controlling a disease outbreak requires cooperation both behind borders and between countries, experts said at a Wednesday event co-organised by the Geneva Graduate Institute’s Global Health Centre. And one key, neglected area of international cooperation has been travel restrictions, where countries worldwide have created a cacophony of different measures to control COVID. “Travel measures are […] Continue reading -> Israeli – Palestinian Conflict Blocks Full Day At World Health Assembly 26/05/2021 Elaine Ruth Fletcher A longstanding dispute over a perennial World Health Assembly resolution on the health situation in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories claimed a full day of WHA delegates’ attention – as countries on both sides of the bitter conflict battled over a draft decision in a prolonged debate, leading up to a painstaking virtual vote by roll […] Continue reading -> Independent Oversight Committee: WHO Needs Stronger Base of Finance and Authority For More Robust Pandemic Response 25/05/2021 Chandre Prince Bold decisions are required to strengthen the World Health Organization and equip it with authority and resources it needs to address glaring shortcomings in pandemic preparedness and response, the 74th World Health Assembly was told on Tuesday. Recommendations emerging out of a report by the Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee (IOAC) for the WHO Health […] Continue reading -> Despite Recent Sharp Declines in New Cases, Global COVID Situation “Remains Highly Unstable,” Says WHO 25/05/2021 Madeleine Hoecklin The number of pandemic-related cases and deaths have rapidly accelerated in the first four months of 2021, said WHO officials on the second day of the 74th World Health Assembly – and despite sharp declines seen in almost every region over the four weeks, the situation remains “fragile.” The “highly unstable” global epidemiological situation, combined […] Continue reading -> Pandemic Treaty Discussion Deferred With Appeals for High-Level Political Commitment to Fix WHO 25/05/2021 Kerry Cullinan Key World Health Organization (WHO) member states agreed to postpone a potentially polarising discussion on a ‘pandemic treaty’ until November, according to a World Health Assembly ‘draft decision’ published Tuesday. The proposal – by 26 entities including the European Union, USA, UK and key countries from each WHO region – specifies that a special […] Continue reading -> COVID Exacerbating Severe Violence Against Health Workers 24/05/2021 Madeleine Hoecklin An unprecedented number of healthcare workers were seriously assaulted last year, even as health workers risked their lives on the front lines of the COVID-19 response. Over 412 COVID-related attacks on health workers, including kidnappings and murders, occurred between January and December 2020, experts reported at a World Health Assembly side event. The session Monday […] Continue reading -> Tedros Secures Europe’s Help to Boost WHO Pandemic Capacity Ahead of WHA 24/05/2021 Kerry Cullinan Strengthening the World Health Organization’s pandemic response is a key focus of the 74th World Health Assembly, which started on Monday – and WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has already secured agreements with powerful European member states to do just that. WHA discussion on a report from the Independent Panel on Pandemic Preparedness […] Continue reading -> The 1 Billion Dose Wager on the IP Waiver 21/05/2021 Elaine Ruth Fletcher & Svĕt Lustig Vijay Rich countries need to cough up 1 billion vaccine doses by September, and big pharma should significantly expand its network of voluntary license sharing and manufacturing – in order to avoid a vote by World Trade Organization members on a controversial proposal to waive all COVID-related intellectual property for the duration of the pandemic. That […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts
Travel Restrictions & Other Cross-Border Pandemic Control Measures Need More Coordination 26/05/2021 Raisa Santos Controlling a disease outbreak requires cooperation both behind borders and between countries, experts said at a Wednesday event co-organised by the Geneva Graduate Institute’s Global Health Centre. And one key, neglected area of international cooperation has been travel restrictions, where countries worldwide have created a cacophony of different measures to control COVID. “Travel measures are […] Continue reading -> Israeli – Palestinian Conflict Blocks Full Day At World Health Assembly 26/05/2021 Elaine Ruth Fletcher A longstanding dispute over a perennial World Health Assembly resolution on the health situation in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories claimed a full day of WHA delegates’ attention – as countries on both sides of the bitter conflict battled over a draft decision in a prolonged debate, leading up to a painstaking virtual vote by roll […] Continue reading -> Independent Oversight Committee: WHO Needs Stronger Base of Finance and Authority For More Robust Pandemic Response 25/05/2021 Chandre Prince Bold decisions are required to strengthen the World Health Organization and equip it with authority and resources it needs to address glaring shortcomings in pandemic preparedness and response, the 74th World Health Assembly was told on Tuesday. Recommendations emerging out of a report by the Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee (IOAC) for the WHO Health […] Continue reading -> Despite Recent Sharp Declines in New Cases, Global COVID Situation “Remains Highly Unstable,” Says WHO 25/05/2021 Madeleine Hoecklin The number of pandemic-related cases and deaths have rapidly accelerated in the first four months of 2021, said WHO officials on the second day of the 74th World Health Assembly – and despite sharp declines seen in almost every region over the four weeks, the situation remains “fragile.” The “highly unstable” global epidemiological situation, combined […] Continue reading -> Pandemic Treaty Discussion Deferred With Appeals for High-Level Political Commitment to Fix WHO 25/05/2021 Kerry Cullinan Key World Health Organization (WHO) member states agreed to postpone a potentially polarising discussion on a ‘pandemic treaty’ until November, according to a World Health Assembly ‘draft decision’ published Tuesday. The proposal – by 26 entities including the European Union, USA, UK and key countries from each WHO region – specifies that a special […] Continue reading -> COVID Exacerbating Severe Violence Against Health Workers 24/05/2021 Madeleine Hoecklin An unprecedented number of healthcare workers were seriously assaulted last year, even as health workers risked their lives on the front lines of the COVID-19 response. Over 412 COVID-related attacks on health workers, including kidnappings and murders, occurred between January and December 2020, experts reported at a World Health Assembly side event. The session Monday […] Continue reading -> Tedros Secures Europe’s Help to Boost WHO Pandemic Capacity Ahead of WHA 24/05/2021 Kerry Cullinan Strengthening the World Health Organization’s pandemic response is a key focus of the 74th World Health Assembly, which started on Monday – and WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has already secured agreements with powerful European member states to do just that. WHA discussion on a report from the Independent Panel on Pandemic Preparedness […] Continue reading -> The 1 Billion Dose Wager on the IP Waiver 21/05/2021 Elaine Ruth Fletcher & Svĕt Lustig Vijay Rich countries need to cough up 1 billion vaccine doses by September, and big pharma should significantly expand its network of voluntary license sharing and manufacturing – in order to avoid a vote by World Trade Organization members on a controversial proposal to waive all COVID-related intellectual property for the duration of the pandemic. That […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts
Israeli – Palestinian Conflict Blocks Full Day At World Health Assembly 26/05/2021 Elaine Ruth Fletcher A longstanding dispute over a perennial World Health Assembly resolution on the health situation in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories claimed a full day of WHA delegates’ attention – as countries on both sides of the bitter conflict battled over a draft decision in a prolonged debate, leading up to a painstaking virtual vote by roll […] Continue reading -> Independent Oversight Committee: WHO Needs Stronger Base of Finance and Authority For More Robust Pandemic Response 25/05/2021 Chandre Prince Bold decisions are required to strengthen the World Health Organization and equip it with authority and resources it needs to address glaring shortcomings in pandemic preparedness and response, the 74th World Health Assembly was told on Tuesday. Recommendations emerging out of a report by the Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee (IOAC) for the WHO Health […] Continue reading -> Despite Recent Sharp Declines in New Cases, Global COVID Situation “Remains Highly Unstable,” Says WHO 25/05/2021 Madeleine Hoecklin The number of pandemic-related cases and deaths have rapidly accelerated in the first four months of 2021, said WHO officials on the second day of the 74th World Health Assembly – and despite sharp declines seen in almost every region over the four weeks, the situation remains “fragile.” The “highly unstable” global epidemiological situation, combined […] Continue reading -> Pandemic Treaty Discussion Deferred With Appeals for High-Level Political Commitment to Fix WHO 25/05/2021 Kerry Cullinan Key World Health Organization (WHO) member states agreed to postpone a potentially polarising discussion on a ‘pandemic treaty’ until November, according to a World Health Assembly ‘draft decision’ published Tuesday. The proposal – by 26 entities including the European Union, USA, UK and key countries from each WHO region – specifies that a special […] Continue reading -> COVID Exacerbating Severe Violence Against Health Workers 24/05/2021 Madeleine Hoecklin An unprecedented number of healthcare workers were seriously assaulted last year, even as health workers risked their lives on the front lines of the COVID-19 response. Over 412 COVID-related attacks on health workers, including kidnappings and murders, occurred between January and December 2020, experts reported at a World Health Assembly side event. The session Monday […] Continue reading -> Tedros Secures Europe’s Help to Boost WHO Pandemic Capacity Ahead of WHA 24/05/2021 Kerry Cullinan Strengthening the World Health Organization’s pandemic response is a key focus of the 74th World Health Assembly, which started on Monday – and WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has already secured agreements with powerful European member states to do just that. WHA discussion on a report from the Independent Panel on Pandemic Preparedness […] Continue reading -> The 1 Billion Dose Wager on the IP Waiver 21/05/2021 Elaine Ruth Fletcher & Svĕt Lustig Vijay Rich countries need to cough up 1 billion vaccine doses by September, and big pharma should significantly expand its network of voluntary license sharing and manufacturing – in order to avoid a vote by World Trade Organization members on a controversial proposal to waive all COVID-related intellectual property for the duration of the pandemic. That […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts
Independent Oversight Committee: WHO Needs Stronger Base of Finance and Authority For More Robust Pandemic Response 25/05/2021 Chandre Prince Bold decisions are required to strengthen the World Health Organization and equip it with authority and resources it needs to address glaring shortcomings in pandemic preparedness and response, the 74th World Health Assembly was told on Tuesday. Recommendations emerging out of a report by the Independent Oversight and Advisory Committee (IOAC) for the WHO Health […] Continue reading -> Despite Recent Sharp Declines in New Cases, Global COVID Situation “Remains Highly Unstable,” Says WHO 25/05/2021 Madeleine Hoecklin The number of pandemic-related cases and deaths have rapidly accelerated in the first four months of 2021, said WHO officials on the second day of the 74th World Health Assembly – and despite sharp declines seen in almost every region over the four weeks, the situation remains “fragile.” The “highly unstable” global epidemiological situation, combined […] Continue reading -> Pandemic Treaty Discussion Deferred With Appeals for High-Level Political Commitment to Fix WHO 25/05/2021 Kerry Cullinan Key World Health Organization (WHO) member states agreed to postpone a potentially polarising discussion on a ‘pandemic treaty’ until November, according to a World Health Assembly ‘draft decision’ published Tuesday. The proposal – by 26 entities including the European Union, USA, UK and key countries from each WHO region – specifies that a special […] Continue reading -> COVID Exacerbating Severe Violence Against Health Workers 24/05/2021 Madeleine Hoecklin An unprecedented number of healthcare workers were seriously assaulted last year, even as health workers risked their lives on the front lines of the COVID-19 response. Over 412 COVID-related attacks on health workers, including kidnappings and murders, occurred between January and December 2020, experts reported at a World Health Assembly side event. The session Monday […] Continue reading -> Tedros Secures Europe’s Help to Boost WHO Pandemic Capacity Ahead of WHA 24/05/2021 Kerry Cullinan Strengthening the World Health Organization’s pandemic response is a key focus of the 74th World Health Assembly, which started on Monday – and WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has already secured agreements with powerful European member states to do just that. WHA discussion on a report from the Independent Panel on Pandemic Preparedness […] Continue reading -> The 1 Billion Dose Wager on the IP Waiver 21/05/2021 Elaine Ruth Fletcher & Svĕt Lustig Vijay Rich countries need to cough up 1 billion vaccine doses by September, and big pharma should significantly expand its network of voluntary license sharing and manufacturing – in order to avoid a vote by World Trade Organization members on a controversial proposal to waive all COVID-related intellectual property for the duration of the pandemic. That […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts
Despite Recent Sharp Declines in New Cases, Global COVID Situation “Remains Highly Unstable,” Says WHO 25/05/2021 Madeleine Hoecklin The number of pandemic-related cases and deaths have rapidly accelerated in the first four months of 2021, said WHO officials on the second day of the 74th World Health Assembly – and despite sharp declines seen in almost every region over the four weeks, the situation remains “fragile.” The “highly unstable” global epidemiological situation, combined […] Continue reading -> Pandemic Treaty Discussion Deferred With Appeals for High-Level Political Commitment to Fix WHO 25/05/2021 Kerry Cullinan Key World Health Organization (WHO) member states agreed to postpone a potentially polarising discussion on a ‘pandemic treaty’ until November, according to a World Health Assembly ‘draft decision’ published Tuesday. The proposal – by 26 entities including the European Union, USA, UK and key countries from each WHO region – specifies that a special […] Continue reading -> COVID Exacerbating Severe Violence Against Health Workers 24/05/2021 Madeleine Hoecklin An unprecedented number of healthcare workers were seriously assaulted last year, even as health workers risked their lives on the front lines of the COVID-19 response. Over 412 COVID-related attacks on health workers, including kidnappings and murders, occurred between January and December 2020, experts reported at a World Health Assembly side event. The session Monday […] Continue reading -> Tedros Secures Europe’s Help to Boost WHO Pandemic Capacity Ahead of WHA 24/05/2021 Kerry Cullinan Strengthening the World Health Organization’s pandemic response is a key focus of the 74th World Health Assembly, which started on Monday – and WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has already secured agreements with powerful European member states to do just that. WHA discussion on a report from the Independent Panel on Pandemic Preparedness […] Continue reading -> The 1 Billion Dose Wager on the IP Waiver 21/05/2021 Elaine Ruth Fletcher & Svĕt Lustig Vijay Rich countries need to cough up 1 billion vaccine doses by September, and big pharma should significantly expand its network of voluntary license sharing and manufacturing – in order to avoid a vote by World Trade Organization members on a controversial proposal to waive all COVID-related intellectual property for the duration of the pandemic. That […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts
Pandemic Treaty Discussion Deferred With Appeals for High-Level Political Commitment to Fix WHO 25/05/2021 Kerry Cullinan Key World Health Organization (WHO) member states agreed to postpone a potentially polarising discussion on a ‘pandemic treaty’ until November, according to a World Health Assembly ‘draft decision’ published Tuesday. The proposal – by 26 entities including the European Union, USA, UK and key countries from each WHO region – specifies that a special […] Continue reading -> COVID Exacerbating Severe Violence Against Health Workers 24/05/2021 Madeleine Hoecklin An unprecedented number of healthcare workers were seriously assaulted last year, even as health workers risked their lives on the front lines of the COVID-19 response. Over 412 COVID-related attacks on health workers, including kidnappings and murders, occurred between January and December 2020, experts reported at a World Health Assembly side event. The session Monday […] Continue reading -> Tedros Secures Europe’s Help to Boost WHO Pandemic Capacity Ahead of WHA 24/05/2021 Kerry Cullinan Strengthening the World Health Organization’s pandemic response is a key focus of the 74th World Health Assembly, which started on Monday – and WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has already secured agreements with powerful European member states to do just that. WHA discussion on a report from the Independent Panel on Pandemic Preparedness […] Continue reading -> The 1 Billion Dose Wager on the IP Waiver 21/05/2021 Elaine Ruth Fletcher & Svĕt Lustig Vijay Rich countries need to cough up 1 billion vaccine doses by September, and big pharma should significantly expand its network of voluntary license sharing and manufacturing – in order to avoid a vote by World Trade Organization members on a controversial proposal to waive all COVID-related intellectual property for the duration of the pandemic. That […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts
COVID Exacerbating Severe Violence Against Health Workers 24/05/2021 Madeleine Hoecklin An unprecedented number of healthcare workers were seriously assaulted last year, even as health workers risked their lives on the front lines of the COVID-19 response. Over 412 COVID-related attacks on health workers, including kidnappings and murders, occurred between January and December 2020, experts reported at a World Health Assembly side event. The session Monday […] Continue reading -> Tedros Secures Europe’s Help to Boost WHO Pandemic Capacity Ahead of WHA 24/05/2021 Kerry Cullinan Strengthening the World Health Organization’s pandemic response is a key focus of the 74th World Health Assembly, which started on Monday – and WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has already secured agreements with powerful European member states to do just that. WHA discussion on a report from the Independent Panel on Pandemic Preparedness […] Continue reading -> The 1 Billion Dose Wager on the IP Waiver 21/05/2021 Elaine Ruth Fletcher & Svĕt Lustig Vijay Rich countries need to cough up 1 billion vaccine doses by September, and big pharma should significantly expand its network of voluntary license sharing and manufacturing – in order to avoid a vote by World Trade Organization members on a controversial proposal to waive all COVID-related intellectual property for the duration of the pandemic. That […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts
Tedros Secures Europe’s Help to Boost WHO Pandemic Capacity Ahead of WHA 24/05/2021 Kerry Cullinan Strengthening the World Health Organization’s pandemic response is a key focus of the 74th World Health Assembly, which started on Monday – and WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has already secured agreements with powerful European member states to do just that. WHA discussion on a report from the Independent Panel on Pandemic Preparedness […] Continue reading -> The 1 Billion Dose Wager on the IP Waiver 21/05/2021 Elaine Ruth Fletcher & Svĕt Lustig Vijay Rich countries need to cough up 1 billion vaccine doses by September, and big pharma should significantly expand its network of voluntary license sharing and manufacturing – in order to avoid a vote by World Trade Organization members on a controversial proposal to waive all COVID-related intellectual property for the duration of the pandemic. That […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts
The 1 Billion Dose Wager on the IP Waiver 21/05/2021 Elaine Ruth Fletcher & Svĕt Lustig Vijay Rich countries need to cough up 1 billion vaccine doses by September, and big pharma should significantly expand its network of voluntary license sharing and manufacturing – in order to avoid a vote by World Trade Organization members on a controversial proposal to waive all COVID-related intellectual property for the duration of the pandemic. That […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts