G20: Security, Trade, Climate, Trump Diplomacy Overshadow Health, IT, Innovation

07/07/2017 Monika Ermert

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On the eve of the G20 meeting in Hamburg, Germany, German politicians described positions on free trade and climate as the most difficult issues. Expectations from civil society groups in the G20 results are modest at best and the 6 July protest march “Welcome to Hell” was cancelled after clashes between the police and parts of the protestors. Continue reading ->

Enter The African Medicines Agency, Continent’s First Super-Regulator?

03/07/2017 Tatum Anderson

An African medicines agency, the continent’s first super-regulator, could be approved as soon as next year. Continue reading ->

Medicines Patent Pool Nets WHO’s Kieny As New Chair

03/07/2017 Catherine Saez

Marie-Paule Kieny, fresh out of the World Health Organization, where she held the position of assistant director general for Health Systems and Innovation, will be the new chair of the Medicines Patent Pool, as of 1 September.Continue reading ->

World’s Most Effective HIV Drug Rolled Out In Africa In Generic Version

29/06/2017 Fredrick Nzwili

NAIROBI, Kenya – A generic version of dolutegravir (DTG), the drug of choice for the last two years for people living with HIV in high-income countries, is now available in Africa.

On 28 June, the government of Kenya and drug pricing and innovation mechanism Unitaid unveiled the new first-line drug in an effort to accelerate access to better antiretroviral (ARV) drugs for her people living with HIV. It becomes the first country in Africa to introduce the generic version of drug. Continue reading ->

Human Rights Council Speakers: Right To Health Underlies All Other Rights, Access To Medicines Key

09/06/2017 Catherine Saez

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If governments have the obligation to help keep their citizens healthy, many of them are struggling to strengthen their health systems. A variety of hurdles is in the way, and lack of access to medicines is one of them, as underlined by the World Health Organization director general in her address to the United Nations Human Rights Council yesterday. Continue reading ->

Summit: Artificial Intelligence Is Humanity-Changing, Build Safeguards Now

07/06/2017 Catherine Saez

For artificial intelligence enthusiasts, the future is bright. Soon intelligent machines will help humankind solve most problems, and according to one speaker at an artificial intelligence summit in Geneva this week, humans will be outsmarted by robots in the foreseeable future, in an artificial intelligence bliss. For others, artificial intelligence is far from delivering a fully positive outcome, and for several United Nations representatives, such as the World Health Organization, the world should not be entrusted to robots just yet. Continue reading ->

WHO Members Mixed On Evaluation Of Director General Election Process

07/06/2017 Elise De Geyter

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The opinions of the World Health Organization member states on the just-completed election process for a WHO director general showed divisions, according to statements at last week’s meeting of the WHO Executive Board. Continue reading ->

Industry, NGOs On Staff At WHO? Beware Of Revolving Doors, Some Say

06/06/2017 Catherine Saez

The agreement found last year after months of intense discussion to avert the possibility of undue influence by outside actors at the World Health Organization is yet to be fully implemented. The World Health Assembly last week looked at progress and the process by which the WHO can temporarily welcome on its staff individuals from the private sector, civil society, philanthropic foundations, and academic institutions. Some countries questioned principles in this process but were told by the WHO that their comments would merely be recorded. Continue reading ->

Polypills: Are Miracle Treatments Being Overlooked?

05/06/2017 Tatum Anderson

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD), a group of conditions that can result in heart attacks and strokes, is the world’s number one killer, accounting for one-third of deaths throughout the world, according to research released recently (17 May) by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington. Continue reading ->

World Health Assembly Adopts Resolution Supporting Tax On Tobacco, Alcohol, Sugar

02/06/2017 Catherine Saez

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Cancer, diabetes, heart disease and chronic respiratory diseases are killing millions of people each year, making noncommunicable diseases the leading global cause of human deaths, many of them premature. This week, the World Health Assembly endorsed an updated set of policy options for countries to help them with the prevention and control of those diseases. On the list is a suggestion for tax increases on tobacco products and alcoholic beverages, and the reduction of salt intake. Supported by many countries, it was resisted by the United States and Italy. Continue reading ->