Germany Plans More Cuts to Global Health Funding, But Policymakers Push Back on 2027 Draft Budget 26/08/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen Under Germany’s tightly constrained draft budget proposal for 2027, the government is set to reduce global health funding substantially. While mandatory assessed contributions to the World Health Organization (WHO) will rise slightly, flexible budgets for pandemic preparedness are planned to be cut by 15.3%. As part of a broader budget overhaul, the German government is […] Continue reading -> BREAKING – WHO’s European Regional Office Head Hans Kluge Enters Race for Director-General 20/08/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen Dr Hans Henri Kluge, WHO’s Regional Director for Europe, has become the third candidate to throw his hat into the ring in the race for the next WHO Director-General. He will be taking a leave of absence from his duties from Friday, 21 August 2026 following his nomination by home country Belgium. This is according […] Continue reading -> Climate Crisis in ‘Overdrive’ as Fossil Fuels Fan El Niño, UN Chief Warns 31/07/2026 Disha Shetty As wildfires rage across continents, heatwaves claim thousands of lives and ocean temperatures shatter records, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned on Friday that the climate crisis has entered “overdrive.” “This is only a warm-up act,” he said. “El Niño is strengthening, adding fuel to a planet already on fire with scorching heat domes, apocalyptic wildfires […] Continue reading -> As Extreme Heat Deaths Mount in Europe, WHO Urges Urban Redesign 11/06/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen Following a severe May heatwave, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued new global guidelines on Thursday in Berlin to accelerate climate adaptation and structurally overhaul health systems and urban spaces. Over the past four years, extreme heat has claimed more than 200,000 lives across Europe, positioning it as the deadliest climate-related hazard. As new climate […] Continue reading -> ‘Failure was Never an Option’: South Africa’s mRNA ‘Hub’ Awarded Good Manufacturing Practice Certification 27/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan Afrigen Biologics, the South African facility that developed an mRNA vaccine from scratch during COVID-19, has become the first African facility to be certified to manufacture investigational biological products for Phase I and II clinical trials. The facility celebrated receiving its Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certification for its mRNA facility in Cape Town from the […] Continue reading -> WHO Executive Board Adopts Process for Election of Next Director General, With Powerful Role for Poor African States 25/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Executive Board (EB) decided on Monday that the first forum for candidates aspiring to become the next Director General will be held on 18 November, where they will face questions from member states. Meanwhile, some of Africa’s poorest countries will play a decisive role in choosing the next DG, thanks […] Continue reading -> The Overlooked Decisions of the 79th World Health Assembly 25/05/2026 Stefan Anderson GENEVA — Hundreds of hours of formal negotiations and corridor-side bargaining in the halls of the United Nations (UN) Palais des Nations and World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters this week ended on Saturday afternoon – more or less on schedule, an outcome rare enough at the UN to be cause for celebration. The sunshine, Mont […] Continue reading -> Decades After Ottawa Charter on Determinants of Health, a Question of Combating Commercial Influences 24/05/2026 Sophia Samantaroy Three emerging threats to health: the commercial, digital, and climate determinants of health played centre stage at an event 40 years after a WHO charter shifted the focus of health from individual lifestyle choices to broader social and environmental determinants. Commercial formula company practices are just one case study of how structural factors like marketing […] Continue reading -> WHA Member States Approve Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy After Resolving Tech Transfer Debate 23/05/2026 Stefan Anderson WHO Member States approved a new 10-year global action plan to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) on Friday after a months-long fight over how the world should share AMR-related medical technologies. The plan, which runs through 2036, maps out strategies for countries to implementing the ambitious targets set at a UN High Level Meeting, including reducing […] Continue reading -> Restore Funds for Malaria, Africa Urges 21/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan The African region made an impassioned appeal for global funding to be restored for malaria elimination at the World Health Assembly on Wednesday. Drastic aid cuts in the past 18 months, particularly by the United States, have had a dramatic effect on malaria efforts – particularly as they coincide with growing drug resistance. Nigeria, speaking […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts
BREAKING – WHO’s European Regional Office Head Hans Kluge Enters Race for Director-General 20/08/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen Dr Hans Henri Kluge, WHO’s Regional Director for Europe, has become the third candidate to throw his hat into the ring in the race for the next WHO Director-General. He will be taking a leave of absence from his duties from Friday, 21 August 2026 following his nomination by home country Belgium. This is according […] Continue reading -> Climate Crisis in ‘Overdrive’ as Fossil Fuels Fan El Niño, UN Chief Warns 31/07/2026 Disha Shetty As wildfires rage across continents, heatwaves claim thousands of lives and ocean temperatures shatter records, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned on Friday that the climate crisis has entered “overdrive.” “This is only a warm-up act,” he said. “El Niño is strengthening, adding fuel to a planet already on fire with scorching heat domes, apocalyptic wildfires […] Continue reading -> As Extreme Heat Deaths Mount in Europe, WHO Urges Urban Redesign 11/06/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen Following a severe May heatwave, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued new global guidelines on Thursday in Berlin to accelerate climate adaptation and structurally overhaul health systems and urban spaces. Over the past four years, extreme heat has claimed more than 200,000 lives across Europe, positioning it as the deadliest climate-related hazard. As new climate […] Continue reading -> ‘Failure was Never an Option’: South Africa’s mRNA ‘Hub’ Awarded Good Manufacturing Practice Certification 27/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan Afrigen Biologics, the South African facility that developed an mRNA vaccine from scratch during COVID-19, has become the first African facility to be certified to manufacture investigational biological products for Phase I and II clinical trials. The facility celebrated receiving its Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certification for its mRNA facility in Cape Town from the […] Continue reading -> WHO Executive Board Adopts Process for Election of Next Director General, With Powerful Role for Poor African States 25/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Executive Board (EB) decided on Monday that the first forum for candidates aspiring to become the next Director General will be held on 18 November, where they will face questions from member states. Meanwhile, some of Africa’s poorest countries will play a decisive role in choosing the next DG, thanks […] Continue reading -> The Overlooked Decisions of the 79th World Health Assembly 25/05/2026 Stefan Anderson GENEVA — Hundreds of hours of formal negotiations and corridor-side bargaining in the halls of the United Nations (UN) Palais des Nations and World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters this week ended on Saturday afternoon – more or less on schedule, an outcome rare enough at the UN to be cause for celebration. The sunshine, Mont […] Continue reading -> Decades After Ottawa Charter on Determinants of Health, a Question of Combating Commercial Influences 24/05/2026 Sophia Samantaroy Three emerging threats to health: the commercial, digital, and climate determinants of health played centre stage at an event 40 years after a WHO charter shifted the focus of health from individual lifestyle choices to broader social and environmental determinants. Commercial formula company practices are just one case study of how structural factors like marketing […] Continue reading -> WHA Member States Approve Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy After Resolving Tech Transfer Debate 23/05/2026 Stefan Anderson WHO Member States approved a new 10-year global action plan to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) on Friday after a months-long fight over how the world should share AMR-related medical technologies. The plan, which runs through 2036, maps out strategies for countries to implementing the ambitious targets set at a UN High Level Meeting, including reducing […] Continue reading -> Restore Funds for Malaria, Africa Urges 21/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan The African region made an impassioned appeal for global funding to be restored for malaria elimination at the World Health Assembly on Wednesday. Drastic aid cuts in the past 18 months, particularly by the United States, have had a dramatic effect on malaria efforts – particularly as they coincide with growing drug resistance. Nigeria, speaking […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts
Climate Crisis in ‘Overdrive’ as Fossil Fuels Fan El Niño, UN Chief Warns 31/07/2026 Disha Shetty As wildfires rage across continents, heatwaves claim thousands of lives and ocean temperatures shatter records, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned on Friday that the climate crisis has entered “overdrive.” “This is only a warm-up act,” he said. “El Niño is strengthening, adding fuel to a planet already on fire with scorching heat domes, apocalyptic wildfires […] Continue reading -> As Extreme Heat Deaths Mount in Europe, WHO Urges Urban Redesign 11/06/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen Following a severe May heatwave, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued new global guidelines on Thursday in Berlin to accelerate climate adaptation and structurally overhaul health systems and urban spaces. Over the past four years, extreme heat has claimed more than 200,000 lives across Europe, positioning it as the deadliest climate-related hazard. As new climate […] Continue reading -> ‘Failure was Never an Option’: South Africa’s mRNA ‘Hub’ Awarded Good Manufacturing Practice Certification 27/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan Afrigen Biologics, the South African facility that developed an mRNA vaccine from scratch during COVID-19, has become the first African facility to be certified to manufacture investigational biological products for Phase I and II clinical trials. The facility celebrated receiving its Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certification for its mRNA facility in Cape Town from the […] Continue reading -> WHO Executive Board Adopts Process for Election of Next Director General, With Powerful Role for Poor African States 25/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Executive Board (EB) decided on Monday that the first forum for candidates aspiring to become the next Director General will be held on 18 November, where they will face questions from member states. Meanwhile, some of Africa’s poorest countries will play a decisive role in choosing the next DG, thanks […] Continue reading -> The Overlooked Decisions of the 79th World Health Assembly 25/05/2026 Stefan Anderson GENEVA — Hundreds of hours of formal negotiations and corridor-side bargaining in the halls of the United Nations (UN) Palais des Nations and World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters this week ended on Saturday afternoon – more or less on schedule, an outcome rare enough at the UN to be cause for celebration. The sunshine, Mont […] Continue reading -> Decades After Ottawa Charter on Determinants of Health, a Question of Combating Commercial Influences 24/05/2026 Sophia Samantaroy Three emerging threats to health: the commercial, digital, and climate determinants of health played centre stage at an event 40 years after a WHO charter shifted the focus of health from individual lifestyle choices to broader social and environmental determinants. Commercial formula company practices are just one case study of how structural factors like marketing […] Continue reading -> WHA Member States Approve Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy After Resolving Tech Transfer Debate 23/05/2026 Stefan Anderson WHO Member States approved a new 10-year global action plan to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) on Friday after a months-long fight over how the world should share AMR-related medical technologies. The plan, which runs through 2036, maps out strategies for countries to implementing the ambitious targets set at a UN High Level Meeting, including reducing […] Continue reading -> Restore Funds for Malaria, Africa Urges 21/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan The African region made an impassioned appeal for global funding to be restored for malaria elimination at the World Health Assembly on Wednesday. Drastic aid cuts in the past 18 months, particularly by the United States, have had a dramatic effect on malaria efforts – particularly as they coincide with growing drug resistance. Nigeria, speaking […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts
As Extreme Heat Deaths Mount in Europe, WHO Urges Urban Redesign 11/06/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen Following a severe May heatwave, the World Health Organization (WHO) issued new global guidelines on Thursday in Berlin to accelerate climate adaptation and structurally overhaul health systems and urban spaces. Over the past four years, extreme heat has claimed more than 200,000 lives across Europe, positioning it as the deadliest climate-related hazard. As new climate […] Continue reading -> ‘Failure was Never an Option’: South Africa’s mRNA ‘Hub’ Awarded Good Manufacturing Practice Certification 27/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan Afrigen Biologics, the South African facility that developed an mRNA vaccine from scratch during COVID-19, has become the first African facility to be certified to manufacture investigational biological products for Phase I and II clinical trials. The facility celebrated receiving its Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certification for its mRNA facility in Cape Town from the […] Continue reading -> WHO Executive Board Adopts Process for Election of Next Director General, With Powerful Role for Poor African States 25/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Executive Board (EB) decided on Monday that the first forum for candidates aspiring to become the next Director General will be held on 18 November, where they will face questions from member states. Meanwhile, some of Africa’s poorest countries will play a decisive role in choosing the next DG, thanks […] Continue reading -> The Overlooked Decisions of the 79th World Health Assembly 25/05/2026 Stefan Anderson GENEVA — Hundreds of hours of formal negotiations and corridor-side bargaining in the halls of the United Nations (UN) Palais des Nations and World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters this week ended on Saturday afternoon – more or less on schedule, an outcome rare enough at the UN to be cause for celebration. The sunshine, Mont […] Continue reading -> Decades After Ottawa Charter on Determinants of Health, a Question of Combating Commercial Influences 24/05/2026 Sophia Samantaroy Three emerging threats to health: the commercial, digital, and climate determinants of health played centre stage at an event 40 years after a WHO charter shifted the focus of health from individual lifestyle choices to broader social and environmental determinants. Commercial formula company practices are just one case study of how structural factors like marketing […] Continue reading -> WHA Member States Approve Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy After Resolving Tech Transfer Debate 23/05/2026 Stefan Anderson WHO Member States approved a new 10-year global action plan to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) on Friday after a months-long fight over how the world should share AMR-related medical technologies. The plan, which runs through 2036, maps out strategies for countries to implementing the ambitious targets set at a UN High Level Meeting, including reducing […] Continue reading -> Restore Funds for Malaria, Africa Urges 21/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan The African region made an impassioned appeal for global funding to be restored for malaria elimination at the World Health Assembly on Wednesday. Drastic aid cuts in the past 18 months, particularly by the United States, have had a dramatic effect on malaria efforts – particularly as they coincide with growing drug resistance. Nigeria, speaking […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts
‘Failure was Never an Option’: South Africa’s mRNA ‘Hub’ Awarded Good Manufacturing Practice Certification 27/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan Afrigen Biologics, the South African facility that developed an mRNA vaccine from scratch during COVID-19, has become the first African facility to be certified to manufacture investigational biological products for Phase I and II clinical trials. The facility celebrated receiving its Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) certification for its mRNA facility in Cape Town from the […] Continue reading -> WHO Executive Board Adopts Process for Election of Next Director General, With Powerful Role for Poor African States 25/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Executive Board (EB) decided on Monday that the first forum for candidates aspiring to become the next Director General will be held on 18 November, where they will face questions from member states. Meanwhile, some of Africa’s poorest countries will play a decisive role in choosing the next DG, thanks […] Continue reading -> The Overlooked Decisions of the 79th World Health Assembly 25/05/2026 Stefan Anderson GENEVA — Hundreds of hours of formal negotiations and corridor-side bargaining in the halls of the United Nations (UN) Palais des Nations and World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters this week ended on Saturday afternoon – more or less on schedule, an outcome rare enough at the UN to be cause for celebration. The sunshine, Mont […] Continue reading -> Decades After Ottawa Charter on Determinants of Health, a Question of Combating Commercial Influences 24/05/2026 Sophia Samantaroy Three emerging threats to health: the commercial, digital, and climate determinants of health played centre stage at an event 40 years after a WHO charter shifted the focus of health from individual lifestyle choices to broader social and environmental determinants. Commercial formula company practices are just one case study of how structural factors like marketing […] Continue reading -> WHA Member States Approve Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy After Resolving Tech Transfer Debate 23/05/2026 Stefan Anderson WHO Member States approved a new 10-year global action plan to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) on Friday after a months-long fight over how the world should share AMR-related medical technologies. The plan, which runs through 2036, maps out strategies for countries to implementing the ambitious targets set at a UN High Level Meeting, including reducing […] Continue reading -> Restore Funds for Malaria, Africa Urges 21/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan The African region made an impassioned appeal for global funding to be restored for malaria elimination at the World Health Assembly on Wednesday. Drastic aid cuts in the past 18 months, particularly by the United States, have had a dramatic effect on malaria efforts – particularly as they coincide with growing drug resistance. Nigeria, speaking […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts
WHO Executive Board Adopts Process for Election of Next Director General, With Powerful Role for Poor African States 25/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Executive Board (EB) decided on Monday that the first forum for candidates aspiring to become the next Director General will be held on 18 November, where they will face questions from member states. Meanwhile, some of Africa’s poorest countries will play a decisive role in choosing the next DG, thanks […] Continue reading -> The Overlooked Decisions of the 79th World Health Assembly 25/05/2026 Stefan Anderson GENEVA — Hundreds of hours of formal negotiations and corridor-side bargaining in the halls of the United Nations (UN) Palais des Nations and World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters this week ended on Saturday afternoon – more or less on schedule, an outcome rare enough at the UN to be cause for celebration. The sunshine, Mont […] Continue reading -> Decades After Ottawa Charter on Determinants of Health, a Question of Combating Commercial Influences 24/05/2026 Sophia Samantaroy Three emerging threats to health: the commercial, digital, and climate determinants of health played centre stage at an event 40 years after a WHO charter shifted the focus of health from individual lifestyle choices to broader social and environmental determinants. Commercial formula company practices are just one case study of how structural factors like marketing […] Continue reading -> WHA Member States Approve Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy After Resolving Tech Transfer Debate 23/05/2026 Stefan Anderson WHO Member States approved a new 10-year global action plan to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) on Friday after a months-long fight over how the world should share AMR-related medical technologies. The plan, which runs through 2036, maps out strategies for countries to implementing the ambitious targets set at a UN High Level Meeting, including reducing […] Continue reading -> Restore Funds for Malaria, Africa Urges 21/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan The African region made an impassioned appeal for global funding to be restored for malaria elimination at the World Health Assembly on Wednesday. Drastic aid cuts in the past 18 months, particularly by the United States, have had a dramatic effect on malaria efforts – particularly as they coincide with growing drug resistance. Nigeria, speaking […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts
The Overlooked Decisions of the 79th World Health Assembly 25/05/2026 Stefan Anderson GENEVA — Hundreds of hours of formal negotiations and corridor-side bargaining in the halls of the United Nations (UN) Palais des Nations and World Health Organization (WHO) headquarters this week ended on Saturday afternoon – more or less on schedule, an outcome rare enough at the UN to be cause for celebration. The sunshine, Mont […] Continue reading -> Decades After Ottawa Charter on Determinants of Health, a Question of Combating Commercial Influences 24/05/2026 Sophia Samantaroy Three emerging threats to health: the commercial, digital, and climate determinants of health played centre stage at an event 40 years after a WHO charter shifted the focus of health from individual lifestyle choices to broader social and environmental determinants. Commercial formula company practices are just one case study of how structural factors like marketing […] Continue reading -> WHA Member States Approve Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy After Resolving Tech Transfer Debate 23/05/2026 Stefan Anderson WHO Member States approved a new 10-year global action plan to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) on Friday after a months-long fight over how the world should share AMR-related medical technologies. The plan, which runs through 2036, maps out strategies for countries to implementing the ambitious targets set at a UN High Level Meeting, including reducing […] Continue reading -> Restore Funds for Malaria, Africa Urges 21/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan The African region made an impassioned appeal for global funding to be restored for malaria elimination at the World Health Assembly on Wednesday. Drastic aid cuts in the past 18 months, particularly by the United States, have had a dramatic effect on malaria efforts – particularly as they coincide with growing drug resistance. Nigeria, speaking […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts
Decades After Ottawa Charter on Determinants of Health, a Question of Combating Commercial Influences 24/05/2026 Sophia Samantaroy Three emerging threats to health: the commercial, digital, and climate determinants of health played centre stage at an event 40 years after a WHO charter shifted the focus of health from individual lifestyle choices to broader social and environmental determinants. Commercial formula company practices are just one case study of how structural factors like marketing […] Continue reading -> WHA Member States Approve Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy After Resolving Tech Transfer Debate 23/05/2026 Stefan Anderson WHO Member States approved a new 10-year global action plan to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) on Friday after a months-long fight over how the world should share AMR-related medical technologies. The plan, which runs through 2036, maps out strategies for countries to implementing the ambitious targets set at a UN High Level Meeting, including reducing […] Continue reading -> Restore Funds for Malaria, Africa Urges 21/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan The African region made an impassioned appeal for global funding to be restored for malaria elimination at the World Health Assembly on Wednesday. Drastic aid cuts in the past 18 months, particularly by the United States, have had a dramatic effect on malaria efforts – particularly as they coincide with growing drug resistance. Nigeria, speaking […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts
WHA Member States Approve Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy After Resolving Tech Transfer Debate 23/05/2026 Stefan Anderson WHO Member States approved a new 10-year global action plan to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) on Friday after a months-long fight over how the world should share AMR-related medical technologies. The plan, which runs through 2036, maps out strategies for countries to implementing the ambitious targets set at a UN High Level Meeting, including reducing […] Continue reading -> Restore Funds for Malaria, Africa Urges 21/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan The African region made an impassioned appeal for global funding to be restored for malaria elimination at the World Health Assembly on Wednesday. Drastic aid cuts in the past 18 months, particularly by the United States, have had a dramatic effect on malaria efforts – particularly as they coincide with growing drug resistance. Nigeria, speaking […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts
Restore Funds for Malaria, Africa Urges 21/05/2026 Kerry Cullinan The African region made an impassioned appeal for global funding to be restored for malaria elimination at the World Health Assembly on Wednesday. Drastic aid cuts in the past 18 months, particularly by the United States, have had a dramatic effect on malaria efforts – particularly as they coincide with growing drug resistance. Nigeria, speaking […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older postsNewer posts