Cancer patients in developing countries often cannot get drugs for moderate and severe pain relief, due to the lack of access to opioid drugs. Access to cancer pain treatment needs to be eased, despite legitimate concerns about opioid abuse in some countries, says the World Health Organization (WHO). Continue reading ->
The World Health Organization Executive Board last week remained uncertain on the way forward on questions of access to influenza viruses as countries are increasingly implementing an international protocol regulating the sharing of genetic resources. The Board requested informal discussions be held in the lead-up to the annual World Health Assembly in May. Continue reading ->
At the World Health Organization Executive Board meeting this week, the proposed inclusion of gaming disorder into the latest version of the WHO disease classification system drew unequivocal support from civil society groups present, but no direct mention from member states aside from the United States, which called the proposed inclusion “premature.” Continue reading ->
There is a need to strengthen multisectoral collaboration to halt the global tuberculosis epidemic, WHO Executive Board (EB) members said in a review of the WHO End TB Strategy, which aims to reduce TB deaths by 90 percent by 2030. Continue reading ->
In a rare occasion, the World Health Organization Executive Board today resorted to recorded voting to decide on a politically-charged question, as Israel requested the deletion of an agenda item for the next World Health Assembly relating to the health of Palestinians in occupied territories. The Board ultimately voted against removing the agenda item for the next WHA in May. Continue reading ->
The World Health Organization today admitted to an unusual procedure to set up a debate on the health implications of a UN treaty on sharing of benefits from genetic resources. The new agenda item proposed by the WHO director general was accepted by the WHO Board today, but with member states questioning the governance of the move. Continue reading ->
The World Health Organization is exploring ways to expand relationships with non-governmental organizations, including broader collaborations on key global health priorities and a possible informal consultation with civil society every year, Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Gheyebresus told WHO’s Executive Board today. Continue reading ->
Preventable environmental risks lead to a yearly death toll of 13 million people, 7 million of which are caused by air pollution, according to a World Health Organization report presented yesterday to its members attending the organisation’s Executive Board. Time is of the essence and the WHO draft global strategy on health, environment, and climate change received broad support, as well as a draft action plan for small island developing states, particularly vulnerable to climate change. Continue reading ->
Representatives of Italy and the United States today asked the World Health Organization to remove a summary of evidence on how taxes on sugar-sweetened drinks may help reduce unhealthy sugar consumption from its latest progress report on tackling non-communicable disease (NCDs). Continue reading ->
A substantive discussion took place at the World Health Organization Executive Board meeting yesterday in response to a recently released WHO report on cancer drug pricing. Among the variety of perspectives expressed, many formed consensus in calling for increased transparency of research and development (R&D) costs and equitable access to innovative cancer drugs. Continue reading ->