WHO member states were locked away in late-night negotiations over the shape of a proposed new WHO roadmap for reducing harmful alcohol consumption. A group of member states, led by Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Sri Lanka and Thailand, have been pressing the WHO Executive Board (EB) to support the rapid development of a tough new WHO […] Continue reading ->
The World Health Organization’s Executive Board tackled two big issues today – primary health care, a cornerstone of WHO’s Universal Health Coverage platform, and cancer, the world’s second leading cause of premature deaths. In a comprehensive report released on World Cancer Day, WHO outlined an action plan that could save 7 million lives from cancer […] Continue reading ->
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair appeared Wednesday at a World Economic Forum (WEF) side event hosted by The Economist Events, and supported by tobacco giant Philip Morris International (PMI), Health Policy Watch has learned. The Davos stage was not the first prestige event in Switzerland to which PMI has recently attached its name. In […] Continue reading ->
Ahead of the upcoming WHO Executive Board meeting 3-8 February, WHO has launched a series of informal consultations this week with member state representatives on key issues that will be coming before the governing body – and ultimately the May meeting of the World Health Assembly (WHA). The detailed consultation agenda, published on the WHO […] Continue reading ->
Novartis has relinquished a patent granted by the European Patent Office for Kymriah, a promising new gene therapy for certain forms of leukemia, claiming the patent was no longer essential to the development and marketing of the treatment. The decision followed the moves by the Swiss-based NGO, Public Eye and the French-based Doctors of the […] Continue reading ->
From clearing the air of hookah smoke in Amman, Jordan to bike lanes in Fortaleza, Brazil and salt-free menu options in the restaurants of Montevideo, Uruguay, the Partnership for Healthy Cities has been seeding small grants to cities across the globe – backed by a big ambition. The aim is to build a network of […] Continue reading ->
Make the ¨healthiest choices the easiest choices¨ to prevent many non-communicable diseases. This was a key message from an Independent High-Level Commission report on Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), released Tuesday at a WHO Global Meeting to Accelerate Progress NCDs and Mental Health in Muscat, Oman. The report, ¨It´s Time to Walk the Talk¨, released on the […] Continue reading ->
For the first time ever, leading cancer organizations across Latin America have signed onto a joint declaration pledging to intensify action against millions of avoidable cancer deaths on the continent. The Bogota Statement on Leading BOLD Cancer Prevention into the Future was signed by leaders of cancer organizations and foundations from 8 Latin American countries, […] Continue reading ->
Norway Launches First-Ever Strategy By Major International Donor To Combat Non-Communicable Diseases
Oslo – Norway has launched a milestone “Better Health, Better Life” strategy to combat deadly non-communicable (NCDs) diseases as part of its international development assistance. This makes Norway the first to develop a strategy for combating this large and growing global health threat, which currently receives only about 1% of international health assistance. NCDs are […] Continue reading ->
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cancer, heart disease and stroke, as well as road traffic injuries, are among the leading causes of death in cities – killing some 42 million people worldwide every year. A new report released by the World Health Organization shows how urban leaders can tackle these urban maladies through simple environmental […] Continue reading ->