NEWS on MEDICINES and HEALTH - February 2011

1101 NEWS on MEDICINES and HEALTH - January 2011

NEWS on MEDICINES and HEALTH - December 2010

Update on Medicines and Health - November 2010

News on Health - Medicines September 2010

News on Health - July 2010

Read more … News on Health - July 2010

NEWS on MEDICINES and HEALTH - February 2011

PROGRESS in the ACESS to ESSENTIAL QUALITY MEDICINES in 2010

1101 NEWS on MEDICINES and HEALTH - January 2011

NEWS on MEDICINES and HEALTH - December 2010

UPDATE on MEDICINES and HEALTH - September 2010

ACTA and access to generic medicines

The Anti-counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), proposes a strengthening of intellectual property protections (IPRs) on behalf of multinational drug companies. This, combined with border measures will stifle the trade in legitimate generic medicines and will have a devastating impact on access to medicines in developing countries. The result will be that poor people will be denied legitimate and life-saving generic medicines.

1012 Campaign Europe Hands Off our Medicine- MSF

101130 Talks revive hope of India

101203 ZIMBABWE - Low morale erodes public health gains

101207 IP issues should be kept out of pact with EU

101208 China the third world pharmacy cuts drug price

1208 Drug patents remain a major FTA battleground

101208 Nonprofits Can Develop New Meningitis Vaccine in Africa

101208 Watch Out Big Pharma

Read more … 101208 Watch Out Big Pharma

101209 Kenyans rally against EU-India deal on AIDS drugs

101210 Does EU-India FTA Serve Mutual Interests

101210 EU Data exclusivity in FTAs EU

101214 Major push could end malaria deaths

101215 Defeating malaria within reach

India Anticipates European Fix To Law Delaying Generics Shipments

Mapping health budgets and child deaths

101104 EU deal threatens HIV drug supplies

101124 Europe attacking access to affordable generic drugs

101104 Sierra Leone - Malaria prevention

100924 MDG Summit a Mirage

Read more … 100924 MDG Summit a Mirage

101109 CONGO - Polio cases confirmed

At least 94 people have died, with 201 cases of acute flaccid paralysis reported in the Republic of Congo (ROC), since 5 November. Four cases have been confirmed as wild poliovirus type 1, says the UN World Health Organization (WHO). This is due to the fact that for the last 15 years, immunization campaigns have not been carried out due to the country's political instability.

101109 CONGO - Polio cases confirmed

101104 EU deal threatens HIV drug supplies

In a decade and a half since being diagnosed with HIV, Gangte, a 43 year-old living in New Delhi, has seen his illness transform from a death sentence into a manageable condition, thanks largely to the availability of cheap medicines produced in India... Seven years later, he says he is coming to terms with a new threat to his health: an international trade agreement being brokered between the European Union and India that medical experts warn could leave millions of HIV sufferers in developing world without the drugs they need to stay alive.

101104 EU deal threatens HIV drug supplies

101021 Industry worried by WHO plans to evaluate active ingredients

WHO is starting a pilot where it will prequalify selected APIs because the globalisation of drug production has made it difficult to verify their quality. However, the pharmaceutical industry is concerned the pilot may increase company costs while a US think tank is worried it may take away from the WHO's core business.

101021 WHO plans to evaluate raw materials prompt industry cost worries

Factory closure could leave 7,000 babies without ARVs

Pharmaceutical giant Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS), which owns the French factory that produces didanosine, a second-line ARV for babies weighing less than 10kg, will shut down the plant in June 2010, stopping production of the drug until at least February 2011, when regulatory approval of a new United States-based manufacturing site is expected. Closing this factory means that 4,000-7,000 babies currently enrolled in treatment plans in developing countries through UNITAID [a funding mechanism for HIV treatment] could be left without the medicines they need.

Factory closure could leave 7,000 babies without ARVs

Seven Challenges in Development Aid for Health

This paper outlines seven challenges in development assistance for health, which in the current financial context, have become even more important to address. The paper then provides three suggestions for ways forward: - creating new mechanisms to hold donors to account, - developing national plans and - strengthening national leadership in health, and South-South collaboration……”

Seven Challenges in Development Aid for Health

100903 Addressing Counterfeits without Endangering Public Health

The actual root of the counterfeit medicines problem is grounded in issues of public health, safety and quality. This is where the attention should be focused: to fix the reality of substandard and adulterated medicines. However, rather than developing the solution from a public health and regulatory angle, countries are using an ‘IP enforcement’ approach.

100914 Tougher intellectual property rules may harm trade in medicines

Free Trade Agreements could harm India's generic drug business, which supplies the bulk of the AIDS medicines sent to developing countries. India's generics could cost more and be harder to access if the country has to adhere to stricter intellectual property rules.

Update on Medicines and Health - July 2010

Zambia anti-counterfeit law

Read more … Zambia anti-counterfeit law

WHO Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel

Privatization in the Health sector in Africa

KENYA – Catholic Missionary Group in the Fight against Malaria

Free Trade Agreements and possible impacts on Health

China, India to Raise Concerns At WTO About TRIPS-Plus

Exports of generic drugs at centre of dispute

Access to medicines and Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)

100426 Europe trade deal could hit Indian generic drugs

The Vatican asks for Universal Access to medicines at the HCR

Brazil seizures generics in transit in EU

Development of new medicines for developing countries diseases

Wealthy governments have been slow to fund research that would benefit the poor of other nations

100526 India looks to boost pharmacovigilance efforts

African patients' access to quality medicines

Two different experiences with medicines are having a great impact on public health in Africa: one positive, the other negative.

Call on Leaders at the World Economic Forum to fund AIDS treatment

100501 South African community fights biopiracy

Africa leaders are uniting to fight malaria

Research and Development for neglected diseases

Pharmaceutical companies currently have little financial incentive to develop the drugs most urgently needed by the world’s poor

Geneva and Public Health Solutions For Developing Countries

Counterfeit medicines: kill or cure?

Today two billion people usually do not have access to the essential medicine

Essential medicines and Health systems

EU medicines agency bankrolled by big pharma

Compulsory licenses and access to medicines

If a local government can't afford a pertinent patented drug, it can issue a compulsory license to produce it

India, Brazil raise dispute over EU drug seizures

Role of Indian generic manufacturers in antiretroviral medicines

Indian manufacturers of generic antiretroviral (ARV) medicines facilitated the rapid scale up of HIV/AIDS treatment in developing countries though provision of low-priced, quality-assured medicines.

100720 Religious leaders commit to action on HIV/AIDS

In the middle of thousands of AIDS researchers and activists from around the world, religious leaders have reaffirmed their pledge to fight stigma and discrimination, promote effective prevention and insure quality treatment and care for those living with HIV and AIDS.

The Challenge of Providing Access to Affordable Medication

In today's world, the process of providing access to affordable healthcare should be easier than it is. Globally, we're all affected by the rising costs of healthcare in the face of an aging population - increasing expenditures for healthcare is a challenge in every country.

India Expands Role as Drug Producer

India’s drug industry is on track to grow about 13 percent this year, to just over $24 billion.Business is so brisk that Sun, with revenue of 41 billion rupees ($880 million) last year, predicts sales will grow 20 percent this year and is expanding its Halol factory.

African Union (AU) meet to find solutions to maternal and child deaths

This year’s African Union summit, to be held in Kampala will take maternal and child health as its theme. While target four and five of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) aim at reducing by two-thirds the number of mothers and children who die every year during child birth and childhood illness, many countries are nowhere near meeting that target. African women still die in great numbers while giving birth.

Anti-Counterfeit Deal Threatens Accessibility of Drugs

A proposed anti-counterfeit trade deal (ACTA) between 10 countries and the European Union (EU) could create a new set of barriers to the export of generic medicines to low income countries. ACTA is aimed at tackling the trade in fake and those infringing on intellectual property (IP) rights by strengthening powers of customs officials in signatory countries to seize counterfeit goods.

Access to essential medicines far from being achieved

Access to essential medicines, especially for the poor has not yet become a reality. There are more than 20,000 pharmaceutical products registered in the market - but why do we say that people, especially the poor, cannot access the medicines they need?

Does health aid let governments off the hook

100715 Rethinking health assumptions

New research is challenging conventional medical wisdom, forcing health workers and governments in cash-strapped countries to confront new risks and rethink old ones.
With the advent of rapid diagnostic testing for malaria in recent years, health workers can confirm the infection within minutes. In March 2010, the World Health Organization (WHO) changed its guidelines to require diagnostic confirmation before treatment for patients of all ages.

Archive on Access to Quality Medicines and Health

Fighting the spread of Artemisinin

100706 Most paediatric fevers not caused by malaria

More than half the paediatric fevers treated in public health clinics in Africa are caused by diseases other than malaria, according to a study by Oxford University and other research groups, whose authors caution against the "continued indiscriminate use of anti-malarials for all fevers across Africa."
Of the 183 million children with malaria symptoms treated by public health clinics in 2007, only 43 percent were diagnosed with malaria, but many more most likely received anti-malarial medication.

Another Anti-Counterfeiting Convention Emerges In Europe

MALAWI moves to adopt WHO guidelines

Examining the World’s Health from an Alternative Perspective

100413 UNITAID Patent Pool Budget Approved

100701 Enticing health workers to the outback

A group of experts convened by the UN World Health Organization (WHO) has finalized recommendations to help governments attract more health workers to sparsely staffed areas.
Initial findings include: medical graduates with a rural background are more likely to work outside urban areas; internet and rural health worker associations help workers feel less isolated and more satisfied; and the availability of housing and schools can convince people to stay in under-served areas.

100426 EU-India Free Trade Agreement blog Access to Medicines

100629 Sleeping sickness hits new low

For the first time in half a century, the number of new diagnosed cases of human African trypanosomiasis - also known as sleeping sickness - has dropped below 10,000

South Africa - Clinical research in serious decline

EU and US block moves for greater access to essential medicines

While at the World Health Organization countries from the South are pushing for changes to guarantee much greater access to essential medicines for the world's poor, on the other side the European Union and the US are overtly any progress to assure affordable pricer blocking or technology transfer of life-saving drugs.

AntiCounterfeit Trade Agreement (ACTA) could endanger lives of people

The Anti-Counterfeit Trade Agreement (ACTA) that limits the legitimate movement of cheap generic medicines will hit the poorest people in developing countries unfairly hard.

Tide turns for drug manufacturing in Africa

How the price of medicines could be lowered

Uganda and EAC Bills on anti-counterfeits

100603 Kenya sees cure in Indian generics now

Millenium Development Goals and Health

Health is a Human Right under international law, yet all governents have failed to fulfil their obligations regarding this right. In Africa millions of people lack the most basic healthcare. The MDGs can contribute to strenthening the health services

EU policy on health in developing countries

Victory for Access to Medicines in India

Against the harmonisation of patents

During the last 15 years developing countries are coping with an inequitable international patent regime as a fall out of the Agreement on Trade Related aspects of intellectual property rights. (TRIPS).

Why patients in Africa cannot access medicines on quality

Indian exporters breath easy as East African nations reject draft

Five African countries have refused to endorse a proposal by the East African Community (EAC) to introduce an anti-counterfeit products law.

UNITAID greenlights Patent Pool for AIDS drugs

The approval to start the patent pool by UNITAID will not only save mor lives but also reduce the burden of dependence of people living with HIV/AIDS.

Universal Health coverage received a push

Universal Health coverage is one of Global Health policy biggest aims. At the 2010 Commonwealth Heads of Governments' meeting in Trinidad and Tobago, 54 countries committed themselves to achieve universal coverage of health services free at the point of use.

Africa more vulnerable to non-communicable diseases' deaths

Non-communicable diseases such as heart attackes, strokes, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory illness account for 60 percent of all global deaths. These diseases are now heavily concentrated in poor and disadvantaged groups and have reached Africa.

SOUTH AFRICA - Delayed registration

Delays in registering antiretroviral (ARV) medication may keep cheaper, more patient-friendly drugs out of reach as South Africa prepares to launch the world's largest tender for medicines.

Lack of coherence affect access to Medicines

Brazil called attention to the lack of policy coherence in a world where at one moment countries endorse the use of compulsory licensing to promote access to medicines for all, and in separate fora criticize developing countries for actually considering or issuing such compulsory licenses. If the compulsory licensing of medicines is truly supported, it should not be subject to bilateral and unilateral trade pressures.

EC will keep pressure on pharma sector

Drugmakers need to review their patent settlement agreements as a form of due diligence as the European Commission maintains its scrutiny of the pharmaceuticals sector, according to a leading law firm.

New treatment for sleeping sickness

Universal health coverage: access to what?

IMF Policies Harm Kenyan Health System

Policies set by the IMF have restricted government spending on health services, denying sick Kenyans access to drugs and quality healthcare

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NEWS on MEDICINES and HEALTH - February 2011

1101 NEWS on MEDICINES and HEALTH - January 2011

NEWS on MEDICINES and HEALTH - December 2010

Update on Medicines and Health - November 2010

News on Health - Medicines September 2010

News on Health - July 2010

NEWS on MEDICINES and HEALTH - February 2011

PROGRESS in the ACESS to ESSENTIAL QUALITY MEDICINES in 2010

1101 NEWS on MEDICINES and HEALTH - January 2011

NEWS on MEDICINES and HEALTH - December 2010

UPDATE on MEDICINES and HEALTH - September 2010

ACTA and access to generic medicines

1012 Campaign Europe Hands Off our Medicine- MSF

101130 Talks revive hope of India

101203 ZIMBABWE - Low morale erodes public health gains

101207 IP issues should be kept out of pact with EU

101208 China the third world pharmacy cuts drug price

1208 Drug patents remain a major FTA battleground

101208 Nonprofits Can Develop New Meningitis Vaccine in Africa

101208 Watch Out Big Pharma

101209 Kenyans rally against EU-India deal on AIDS drugs

101210 Does EU-India FTA Serve Mutual Interests

101210 EU Data exclusivity in FTAs EU

101214 Major push could end malaria deaths

101215 Defeating malaria within reach

India Anticipates European Fix To Law Delaying Generics Shipments

Mapping health budgets and child deaths

101104 EU deal threatens HIV drug supplies

101124 Europe attacking access to affordable generic drugs

101104 Sierra Leone - Malaria prevention

100924 MDG Summit a Mirage

101109 CONGO - Polio cases confirmed

101104 EU deal threatens HIV drug supplies

101021 Industry worried by WHO plans to evaluate active ingredients

Factory closure could leave 7,000 babies without ARVs

Seven Challenges in Development Aid for Health

100903 Addressing Counterfeits without Endangering Public Health

100914 Tougher intellectual property rules may harm trade in medicines

Update on Medicines and Health - July 2010

Zambia anti-counterfeit law

WHO Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel

Privatization in the Health sector in Africa

KENYA – Catholic Missionary Group in the Fight against Malaria

Free Trade Agreements and possible impacts on Health

China, India to Raise Concerns At WTO About TRIPS-Plus

Exports of generic drugs at centre of dispute

Access to medicines and Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs)

100426 Europe trade deal could hit Indian generic drugs

The Vatican asks for Universal Access to medicines at the HCR

Brazil seizures generics in transit in EU

Development of new medicines for developing countries diseases

100526 India looks to boost pharmacovigilance efforts

African patients' access to quality medicines

Call on Leaders at the World Economic Forum to fund AIDS treatment

100501 South African community fights biopiracy

Africa leaders are uniting to fight malaria

Research and Development for neglected diseases

Geneva and Public Health Solutions For Developing Countries

Counterfeit medicines: kill or cure?

Essential medicines and Health systems

EU medicines agency bankrolled by big pharma

Compulsory licenses and access to medicines

India, Brazil raise dispute over EU drug seizures

Role of Indian generic manufacturers in antiretroviral medicines

100720 Religious leaders commit to action on HIV/AIDS

The Challenge of Providing Access to Affordable Medication

India Expands Role as Drug Producer

African Union (AU) meet to find solutions to maternal and child deaths

Anti-Counterfeit Deal Threatens Accessibility of Drugs

Access to essential medicines far from being achieved

Does health aid let governments off the hook