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 ->
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 ->
EXCLUSIVE: The Geneva Observer has learned that Transparency International and a broad coalition of organizations advocating for a more robust protection mechanism for UN whistleblowers has sent an open letter to the 74th World Health Assembly (WHA) urging WHO Member States to call for an independent review of the disclosures made by former WHO researcher […] Continue reading ->
Although gender is increasingly factored into health research, much remains to be done, experts reported at a Tuesday event co-organised by the Geneva Graduate Institute’s Global Health Centre. But despite growing awareness, health research continues to conceptualize gender in binary terms. Very little research concerns those who identify as LGBTQ+, according to speakers at the […] Continue reading ->
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 ->
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 ->
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 ->
A draft resolution on expanding prevention and treatment for diabetes now appears set for approval at this week’s World Health Assembly – after a number of European countries, as well as the US, removed their opposition to language mandating the World Health Organization to develop targets for expanded diabetes treatment – as well as measures […] Continue reading ->
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 ->
Just days before the World Health Assembly opens, the United States still appears to be stalling on an initiative led by some of its major European allies, to move ahead decisively on proposals for a “Pandemic Treaty”, according to a US draft proposal seen by Health Policy Watch. The Pandemic Treaty proposal to create a […] Continue reading ->