Novartis and the Global Antibiotic Research & Development Partnership (GARDP) have announced that they are “joining forces” to reduce child deaths from antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by accelerating “the development and availability of generic antibiotic treatments for children in low- and middle-income countries,” according to a GARDP press release. Continue reading ->
BERLIN -- Ten years after establishing the Berlin World Health Summit, the M8 alliance of medical institutes around the globe sees some noticeable progress in political commitment to the health agenda. “Gifts” presented at the opening ceremony yesterday in the German capital include the announcement of German Health Minister Jens Spahn to establish a Hub for Global Health and step up its financial contributions to the World Health Organization (WHO) to 115 million euros over the next four years. The three-day summit also will receive a global action plan to catch up with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3 on health and well-being for all. Continue reading ->
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania -- When Yusta Michael (not her real name) unintentionally fell pregnant in the first year of her university, she realised her dreams had been shattered. A hard-working student at the Institute of Social Welfare in Tanzania’s largest commercial city, Michael was aspiring to become a social worker and help addressing the plight of street children in the sprawling city. At three months pregnant, Michael decided to terminate the pregnancy because her boyfriend disowned it, and she didn’t want to disappoint her deeply religious parents. Continue reading ->
Dorli Kahr-Gottlieb writes: For more than 20 years, every October, around 500 leading health experts from governmental institutions, civil society, the academic world, and the private sector meet up at the European Health Forum Gastein (EHFG). They meet to discuss Europe’s contemporary health challenges and address pressing issues around the sustainability of European health systems in a Davos like setting, in the presence of Ministers of Health and senior European Commission and WHO officials. This year’s edition of the EHFG, called simply “Gastein” by the cognoscente, is an official Austrian EU Presidency event. Over the three days, Gastein is not going to shy away from the big European political debates such as how much of a role Europe should play in shaping health policy; but also it is going to take on some of the big global health policy challenges. Continue reading ->
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania -- The scene of a pregnant woman screaming while giving birth on the cold-tiled floor of Sumbawanga district Hospital in Tanzania’s southwest highlands, three years ago, evokes horribly vivid memories for Jesca Chokala, who was barely able to help her. Continue reading ->
The European Parliament has called on the Commission to do more in the fight against antimicrobial resistance in a resolution passed on 13 September in Strasbourg with an overwhelming majority (589 in favour, 12 against, 36 abstentions). Continue reading ->
In a continent where most countries are struggling to provide for the basic needs of their citizens, investing in innovation, research and development for solutions that could ensure citizens’ well-being is an uphill task. Continue reading ->
Some 60 percent more Africans die from cancer than malaria, and the number of cancer deaths is expected to increase almost 70% by 2030, according to experts. Breast, cervical, prostate, lymphoma and colorectal constitute the top five cancers diagnosed on the continent. In order to address this emerging cancer crisis, the African Access Initiative (AAI) was launched over a year ago. Continue reading ->
A new pilot project conducted in a remote region of Zambia, MAMaZ Against Malaria, has demonstrated that with the right combination of access to medicines, trained community healthcare workers and rapid response rural transportation systems, malaria mortality in rural areas can be prevented, according to the project partnership. Continue reading ->
As many voices in Europe are getting louder about the increasing threat of medicines shortages, the European Medicines Agency and the Heads of Medicines Agencies task force on improving the availability of medicines in Europe just released its 2019/2020 work programme. Working groups tasked to tackle specific issues as well as a multi-stakeholder workshop in November are being set up. Continue reading ->