After several years of dithering and tension, the European Commission has just published a definition of endocrine disruptors which should make it possible to strengthen the protection against these many substances – the best known is Bisphenol A used in baby bottles – that are used daily but which have, or are suspected of having, harmful effects for humans. These products replace human hormones, causing damage especially to embryos and infants. The proposal of the European Commission has yet to be approved by the 28 countries and will be debated in the European Parliament. Many groups - including a majority of European parliamentarians - feel that the Commission, under the influence of lobbies, is ignoring the precautionary principle.

Read more … 1701 Endocrine disruptors

When will the European Union finally regulate endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs)? There are about a thousand synthetic substances that are present everywhere in our environment (pesticides, herbicides, plastics, textiles, cosmetics, computers, building materials ...). Those best known by the general public are bisphenol A (whose use in baby bottles the EU has banned) or phthalates. Because of their interaction with hormonal systems, these chemicals are strongly suspected of being harmful to human health, so much so that the World Health Organization has described EDCs as a "global threat".

Read more … 1604 Still no regulation against endocrine disruptors

Snake bites are considered as one of 24 neglected tropical diseases. There are an estimated 50,000 annual deaths by snakebite in India and 32,000 in Sub-Saharan Africa. In the absence of treatment, the death rate is 10 to 20%. The anti-venom serum (Fav-Africa) was produced by Sanofi Pasteur, world leader in the manufacturing of vaccines. It was versatile, helpful against snake bites and most especially of the ocellated carpet viper, endemic in West and Central Africa.

Unfortunately, Sanofi Pasteur stopped production in 2014. There are 11 other serums in Africa. MSF has used one in the Central African Republic with unfortunate consequences. The death rate increased from 0.47% with Fav Africa to 10% with the new serum. In addition, the first injection does not always stop the bleeding and it was often necessary to give several injections.

Read more … 1512 Shortage of anti-venom serum

For some months, we have been aware of shortages and sharp, unexplained price rises of certain drugs, including in countries of the ‘North’. This is preventing access to care, especially for less well-to-do patients and often the cause of these problems is purely commercial.

Read more … 1510 How a longstanding essential generic medicine becomes … a specialised luxury product!

In November 2014, a group of Christian doctors began to suspect that the anti-tetanus vaccination strategy in Kenya was actually a campaign to sterilise women. Of 9 samples of the vaccine tested in Kenya, 3 appeared to be contaminated by the hormone Beta HCG. In January 2015, as their warning was not being taken into account, the bishops of Kenya took action and the cardinal published this evidence and demanded that in future vaccines should be tested before a campaign is started.

Read more … 1505 Controversy over the 2014 mass tetanus vaccination campaign in Kenya.

There is a platform of NGOs calling for an Alternative Trade Mandate (ATM) in trade relations between Europe and Africa.  Though they do not chorus on all the specifics, but there is a general agreement that the present trade laws and policies between Europe and Africa are unjust. They are advocating for policies and laws leading to fairer trade, not only in goods but also in services. The present Ebola outbreak in the West coast of Africa has revealed the extent to which the Africa's weak health system has been impoverished by unjust trade laws and policies. It also reveals how sick the global and EU institutions are. The effort being made now to contain Ebola in Africa is only first aid. It therefore becomes imperative to attend to the scourge definitively by addressing Africa's health systems.

Read more … 1412 Alternative Health Mandate For Africa

Read more … 1402 - The demise of health systems in Europe resembles the one in Africa

Read more … 1310 - The influence of Pharmaceutical corporations in health policies

Read more … 1306 Investment agreements a hidden danger for access to medicines

Read more … 1304 India under pressure from Europe to sign a trade deal that will harm access to medicines

Read more … 1302 Climate change a threat to human health in Africa

Read more … The Impact of neoliberal policies on health

To respect the special needs and requirements of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), when the TRIPS Agreement of the World Trade Organization (WTO) came into force in 2003, the LDCs were allowed a 10 year exemption on their obligation to grant intellectual property rights, e.g. patents on medicines. As the exemption ends July 2013, Haiti in the name of the LDCs has asked to prolong the period of the exemption till the country ceases to be an LDC. This may impact the access to generic medicines for LDCs.

Read more … The Least Developed countries exempted from granting patents ?

Read more … Towards greater production of medicines in Africa?

Read more … Prizes instead of patents

Read more … Towards a malaria-free Africa?

Read more … The Progress of MDGs on HEALTH in Africa

Read more … The Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) and Health

Read more … The negotiations of the Anti Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) and its risks for Africa

Read more … The Relationship between Trade and Health

Read more … Intellectual property enforcement and access to medicines

Read more … Will African patients have access to quality medicines in the future?

Read more … Access to cheap and good medicines in jeopardy?

Read more … EU’s Trade Negotiations a Threat to the Right to Health

Read more … Council conclusions on the EU role in Global Health

Read more … Because Health Concept Note on Universal Coverage

THE CHARTER is a means to ensure the QUALITY of medicines, vaccines, small medical materials and diagnostic equipments used in health care programmes. 

We invite organizations buying medicines for Africa to sign the CHARTER....

Read more … CHARTER for the Quality of Medicines

On March 28 the European Commission adopted the "Communication on Europe's role in Global Health." This Communication has been done in a close collaboration by three Directorates General: Health, Development and Research in an effort for greater coherence in EU policy

Read more … On the Communication on the EU's role in Global Health

Two proposals of the African Synod are dedicated to the access to medicines of quality for all in Africa.

The paper shows how AEFJN works towards reaching the access of quality medicines for all in Africa.

Read more … The African Synod and access to medicines - AEFJN

The right to health is a right for all. Even though states have to ensure that all citizens are able to enjoy this right, the right to health is being threatened by economic interests. This is illustrated by the free trade agreements the European Union is negotiating with countries in the South.

Read more … EU Free Trade Agreements and the right to Health in the South

Read more … The difficulties to Access Quality Medicines in Africa

The liberalization of trade is presented as bringing prosperity and development, while it has brought poverty and difficulties to many. The European Union aggressively is pushing on developing countries, bilateral free trade agreements that have potential impacts on health, as they will threaten the ability to deliver health for all and will make more difficult reaching some of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Read more … Document FTAs and Health