New study highlights the importance of partnerships in improving public health.

The Cameron Institute – a Canadian not-for-profit public policy think-tank – released a report highlighting the importance of public-private partnerships and of intellectual property protections to improving global health.  The evidence in this report (Pharmaceutical Access in Least Developed Countries: on-the-ground barriers and industry successes) strongly supports North-South, public-private partnerships as the preferred means by which to improve access to care and public health outcomes in least-developed countries.

Sustainable development is the way of the future for both North and South.  In order for there to be sustainable healthcare enterprise and optimal health outcomes in the least-developed countries, there must also be the necessary infrastructure, health human resources, political stability, and professional administrative legal structures.

– Dr. D. Wayne Taylor Ph.D., F.CIM, Executive Director of The Cameron Institute

The 200-page report shows that the research-based pharmaceutical industry has sponsored or participated in over 150 public-private partnerships that have successfully improved access to drugs – as well as health outcomes – for the 50 least developed countries.

Click here to download the full report.

Eradicating malaria: UN sets goal for 2015

African leaders and global health experts rallied at the United Nations today to boost access to life-saving bednets and medicines as part of the fight against malaria, aiming to reach the goal of near-zero deaths by 2015.

“Partnership is absolutely essential to making progress against malaria, and Africa’s heads of State are fully committed to achieving victory against malaria in the next decade,” stated Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda of Tanzania, speaking on behalf of President Jakaya Kikwete – the current chair of ALMA. “We owe our children nothing less.”

A UN Headquarters event on “Bridging the Malaria Gap” brought together members of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) – a coalition of 35 heads of State committed to working together to end malaria in Africa, where the disease claims more than 850,000 lives each year – as well as prominent figures in the fields of global health and development.

The Secretary-General has set the goal of providing life-saving malaria control interventions to the 700 million people at risk of the disease in sub-Saharan Africa by the end of 2010.  African leaders announced several efforts to help achieve this goal, including eliminating taxes and tariffs on bednets, medicines and other life-saving products; banning artemisinin monotherapies that increase disease resistance; and enhancing Africa’s capacity to produce safe and effective anti-malaria products.

Providing bednets to everyone living in malaria-endemic countries by the end of this year has been deemed the most effective way to reach the goal of zero or near-zero deaths by 2015 and ending a scourge that results in an estimated 1 million deaths worldwide every year.

Expediting access to pediatric HIV/AIDS drugs in Guyana; a new public-private partnership

A very interesting announcement from the U.S. Department of State.

The U.S. Government, Government of Guyana, and Pharmaceutical Companies Partner to Expedite the Registration of HIV/AIDS Drugs for Children

Office of the Spokesman
Washington, DC
September 22, 2010

Ambassador Eric Goosby, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, announced a new public-private partnership between the Government of Guyana and the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to make safe pediatric HIV medications available faster in Guyana by expediting the country’s drug registration process. Through the Pre-approval Access for HIV/AIDS Therapies (PaATH) mechanism, the Government of Guyana will grant provisional approval to pediatric HIV medicines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. These antiretroviral drugs will then be available for purchase and use in Guyana while they await full approval through the Government of Guyana’s drug approval process.

In most countries, drug registration can be a long process. While the U.S. Government has taken steps to “fast track” approval for antiretroviral drugs through the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, slow registration processes and limited infrastructure in partner countries can be barriers to access to antiretroviral treatment and other life-saving drugs. Variations from country to country in the drug registration process also result in delays to access. Access to pediatric antiretroviral treatment is further complicated by the fact that there are fewer formulations of antiretroviral drugs for children than there are for adults.

In Guyana, an estimated 18,000 people are living with HIV, and approximately six percent of these HIV infections are in children. Recognizing the impact of HIV/AIDS in Guyana, the Government of Guyana has embraced the PaATH to further their country’s fight against the virus. Guyana has long been regarded as an innovator and global leader addressing regulatory issues specific to the developing world, particularly in the area of HIV/AIDS. Guyana’s experience with the PaATH will provide best practices and lessons learned for other PEPFAR countries interested in expediting their drug approval process. Based on the success in Guyana, the project will expand to other PEPFAR-supported countries.

The PaATH was developed through a public-private partnership that brings together the U.S. Government, the pharmaceutical industry, and non-government organizations to promote scientific and technical discussions on solutions for pediatric HIV treatment, formulations and access. The partnership includes the U.S. Government, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Gilead Sciences, Inc., and the Partnership for Supply Chain Management.

Google vs. illegal online pharmacies

On its official blog, Google says that it has filed a civil lawsuit against advertisers it believes has deliberately broken its rules in regards to obtaining prescription medication.  Scores of online pharmacies have set up shop and offer to illegally sell prescription medication over the Internet.

In recent years, we have noticed a marked increase in the number of rogue pharmacies, as well an increasing sophistication in their methods. This has meant that despite our best efforts, a small percentage of pharma ads from these rogue companies is still appearing on Google.

Rogue pharmacies are bad for our users, for legitimate online pharmacies and for the entire e-commerce industry—so we are going to keep investing time and money to stop these kinds of harmful practices.

– Google blog posting

Last year, Google filed a similar lawsuit against “Google Money” scammers (source: Mashable.com). As Google continues to rise in importance to brands and companies, keeping its search results and advertisement sanitized remains crucial for maintaining Google’s reputation.

Preventing September asthma peak

Courtesy of the Asthma Society of Canada:

Canadian researchers have found that the September back-to school period brings a dramatic increase in hospitalizations for children with asthma. This increase starts when students return to school and will peak in the third week of September and continue into October.  This year, it is expected to peak between Sept 20 and 26th.

What can you do?

1. Speak with your Certified Asthma Educator and/or healthcare provider to:

• assess your child’s level of asthma control
• have their inhaler technique checked (www.asthmameds.ca)
• perform spirometry (breathing test – usually can be performed age 6 and older)
• review your Asthma Action Plan

2. Speak to your child’s school about their policy on asthma inhaler use and advocate that your student carry their rescue inhaler with them

3. Ensure your child is on their asthma controller medication throughout the year (if prescribed) , even when symptom free.  Many students stop their daily asthma controller medications during the summer months and as a result their airways may be inflamed, leaving them more susceptible to the cold virus triggering their asthma during the September Asthma Peak

4. Monitor your child for asthma symptoms daily

5. Identify your child’s triggers (anything that can make their asthma worse) and take steps to minimize trigger exposure

6. Speak to your child about the importance of hand washing to avoid catching and spreading the cold virus

For more information please visit http://asthma.ca/adults/control/septemberPeak.php

Immunization and the MDGs – report from the Red Cross/Red Crescent and GAVI Alliance

A new joint report (Immunization:  unfinished business) from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Socieities (IFRC) and the GAVI Alliance highlights the health impacts of vaccines and the value of partnerships in achieving complex goals such as Millennium Development Goal 4 — the reduction of childhood mortality.

The report highlights that:

• Immunization is a public health ‘best buy’ and significant contributor to the health-related Millennium Development Goals.
• There is untapped potential within vaccination, and millions more lives could be saved.
• A balanced immunization investment strategy with sustained funding is needed.

The Red Cross (IFRC) is convening a side event today (Sept. 20, 6:30 – 8:00 pm) at the forthcoming MDG Summit entitled “Unfinished business: reaching the MDGs with lessons learned from global polio eradication” to promote the lifesaving power of vaccination and the key lessons from polio eradication. The event will address

1. the GPEI lessons learned and their application to the MDGs;
2. the challenges and opportunities for applying these lessons to other global health initiatives; and
3. the collaboration and partnership required to accelerate progress towards the MDGs.

Co-hosting organizations include the Government of Nigeria, WHO, Rotary International, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, GAVI Alliance and the Afghan Red Crescent Society.

Sub-Saharan countries are leading the way in HIV prevention

Between 2001 and 2009, 22 countries in sub-Saharan Africa have seen a decline of more than 25% in new HIV infections.  According to new UNAIDS data, the number of new HIV infections is steadily falling or stabilising in most parts of the world.

The data shows that countries with the largest epidemics in Africa—Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe—are leading the drop in new HIV infections.

There are now 5.2 million people on HIV treatment, which is a 12-fold increase in six years. AIDS deaths have dropped significantly since the widespread availability of treatment—there were 200,000 fewer deaths in 2008 than in 2004. Young people are leading the prevention revolution by choosing to have sex later, having fewer multiple partners and using condoms, resulting in significantly fewer new HIV infections in many countries highly affected by AIDS.

Among adults, male condom use has doubled in the past five years. Tradition is giving space to pragmatism, as communities embrace male circumcision. Research has shown that male circumcision has the potential to reduce HIV infection among men by nearly 60%. New HIV prevention research reported efficacy in a microbicide controlled and initiated by women.

Mass vaccination campaign to protect millions of children in China from measles

According to the UN Daily News, nearly 100 million children across China will this month be vaccinated against measles in one of the world’s largest such public health exercise in an effort to bring the vast country closer to eliminating the contagious disease by 2012.

The vaccination campaign will kick off on 11 September and last until 20 September, WHO and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) said in a joint statement.

In 2009, more than 52,000 people in China were reported to have contracted measles, accounting for about 86 per cent of the measles cases in WHO’s Western Pacific region.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that affects both children and young adults. While most individuals recover from measles infection, some may suffer serious complications such as blindness, encephalitis, severe diarrhoea, pneumonia and ear infections.

Measles is a leading cause of avoidable death and disability among children in developing countries. Globally, an estimated 164,000 people died from measles in 2008 – mostly children under the age of five.

Experience from other countries shows that well-conducted campaigns can ensure that every child, especially those not reached through the routine immunization programme, receives a measles vaccine.

The measles vaccine is a safe and highly effective, but some children may get fever or mild reactions in the days following vaccination. This means that the vaccine is working to protect the child. A child who has previously received measles vaccination can still be given an additional dose of measles vaccine.