For First Time, Unicef Reveals Differences in Prices it Pays Drug Companies for Vaccines

Posted Wed, 2011-06-01 08:42

By DONALD G. McNEIL Jr.
Published: May 27, 2011

The United Nations Children’s Fund on Friday publicly listed for the first time the price it pays for vaccines.

The decision — which immediately revealed wide disparities in what vaccine makers charge — could lead to drastic cuts in prices for vaccines that save millions of children’s lives.

Unicef paid $747 million for vaccines last year, buying over two billion doses for 58 percent of the world’s children.

PHM Statement at the 64th WHA on Future Financing of WHO

Posted Mon, 2011-05-16 14:57
Video: 

Are donors and not its mandate controlling WHO?

Posted Mon, 2011-05-09 13:39
Video: 

More than 80% of WHO's funding today is through tied projects or programs. Is this dictating the policies of WHO to the detriment of its original vision of public health? Professor David Legge discusses these issues with Newsclick.

MDGs: A critique

Posted Mon, 2011-04-11 13:35
Video: 

Interview with Claudio Schuftan: A list of essays on public health, nutrition and human rights. Web: www.humaninfo.org/aviva

Schuftan C. The MDGs: who for, and what for?

World Public Health Nutrition Association - Column 9-10 by Claudio Schuftan

Influence of Malthus

Posted Mon, 2011-02-21 14:13

 Tristram Hunt explores how the ideas of the 18th-century British economist Robert Malthus wrought havoc in 19th-century India, yet were later adopted by Indians themselves.
Listen to the audio: http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/yrhff/

In this new series for BBC Radio 3, historian Tristram Hunt rediscovers the stories of three ideas that emerged in Britain - and then traces how their impact has spread far beyond our shores.

Statement by PHM to Executive Board of WHO, 20 Jan, 2011

Posted Sun, 2011-02-20 16:39

The future of financing for WHO

Statement by People's Health Movement (PHM) to Executive Board of WHO, 20 Jan, 2011

WHO faces a financial crisis. The increasing dependence on extra‐budgetary funds relative to assessed contributions is distorting priority setting. Allocations to the social determinants of health have shrunk while expenditures on medicines are growing although funding to promote the rational use of medicines has almost dried up entirely.

PHM letter to the members of the Executive Board of WHO Jan 2011

Posted Sun, 2011-02-20 16:37

Issues for consideration at the WHO Executive Board

Distinguished members of the Executive Board of WHO,

On behalf of the People’s Health Movement and a number of affiliated networks I submit the comments and suggestions included below regarding some of the items appearing on the agenda of the WHO Executive Board. We hope that you may find time to read and consider these comments before the relevant discussions at the EB. We hope that you find them useful.

MSF: Ten Stories That Mattered in Access to Medicines in 2010

Posted Tue, 2011-01-04 11:53

Among the positive stories of 2010 - two crucial new medical tools could benefit people in developing countries:  a new vaccine could prevent the worst meningitis epidemics in Africa if there is political will to vaccinate broadly in all 25 affected countries, and a new test for tuberculosis could improve diagnosis, while reducing the time it takes to detect drug-resistant forms of the disease from nearly three months to less than two hours.

Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (People's Health Movement India) statement on Binayak Sen's life imprisonment

Posted Sun, 2010-12-26 09:12

Dr Sen has an illustrious record of over 25 years of selfless public service in areas of health and human rights. He has been an active member and former convenor of the Medico Friend Circle, a national organization of health professionals working towards an alternative health system responsive to the needs of the poor. He has been closely associated with the Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, the Indian chapter of the People’s Health Movement. In recognition of his work, the Christian Medical College, Vellore conferred on him the Paul Harrison Award in 2004, which is the highest award given to an alumnus for distinguished service in rural areas. He continues to be an inspiration to successive generations of students and faculty. Many of his articles based on his work have been internationally appreciated. His indictment under the draconian and undemocratic Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act, 2006, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 is utterly condemnable.

Fidel Castro on cholera epidemic in Haiti

Posted Fri, 2010-12-24 14:32

Fidel Castro comments on the Cholera Epidemic and the politics of UN Mission in Haiti. 

 

MINUSTAH and the Epidemic: Cholera in Haiti
By FIDEL CASTRO
About three weeks ago news and photos were published showing Haitian citizens throwing stones and protesting in indignation against the forces of MINUSTAH, accusing it of having transmitted cholera to that country by way of a Nepalese soldier.