WHO Watch

WHA69 May 2016

Posted Sat, 2016-04-16 19:35

The 69th World Health Assembly of the World Health Organization will meet in Geneva from 23 May to 28 May 2016.

SSFFC: hard to pronounce, harder to define

Posted Fri, 2016-01-29 14:50

The complex terminology “Substandard/spurious/falsely-labelled/ falsified/counterfeit” (SSFFC) medical products was proposed 6 years ago by the Director General as a provisional term.  Disappointedly, as time has passed, the only one element that changed is the temporary use of the terminology.

Why are these terms concerning? Because they conflate the issue of the quality of medicines with asserted breaches of intellectual property rights.

PHM: Need for an ambitious Global Vaccine Action Plan

Posted Fri, 2016-01-29 12:55

At the 68th World Health Assembly, Member States committed themselves to strive for a global vaccine program that is both inclusive and universal. The resolution aimed to overcome the barriers affecting vaccine access, and ensure affordability in places with low resources. In order to be more effective, the necessity of reporting on these obstacles was emphasized. 

More than cooking stoves: need for an ambitious plan on air pollution

Posted Thu, 2016-01-28 22:14

In a statement made on January 27, People's Health Movement and Medicus Mundi International pointed out the weaknesses of the draft roadmap established by the WHO for an enhanced global response to the adverse health effects of air pollution. This draft misses an analysis of the current economic and trade-related rules that would prevent the establishment of a robust plan of action.