Access to Medicines

SouthViews No. 162, 2 February 2018

Menace of drug resistance growing

By Anthony D So

This week the Prince Mahidol Awards conference will bring a global spotlight to the threat of emerging infectious diseases. The growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) will feature prominently in these discussions. The timing could not be better, but we urgently need to see more action on the part of the UN Interagency Coordination Group on AMR and key intergovernmental agencies gathering in Bangkok. (more…)

SouthViews No. 160, 19 January 2018

Heading off Global Action on Access to Medicines in 2018

By Dr. Jorge Bermudez and Dr. Viroj Tangcharoensathien

At the dawn of 2018, political and health leaders must seize the growing momentum and opportunities to tackle the protracted challenges of access to medicines that undermine efforts to save lives and improve health as committed under the Agenda 2030 SDG by all UN member states. (more…)

SouthViews No. 159, 3 January 2018

Critical issues to watch in 2018

By Martin Khor

There are several key social and environmental issues to watch out for in 2018 as they are close to reaching a tipping point, says this preview of the new year by the South Centre’s Executive Director Martin Khor. (more…)

SouthViews No. 157, 9 December 2017

Action Needed to Avoid the End of Modern Medicine

By Martin Khor

As global health leaders warn that antibiotic resistance is leading to the end of modern medicine, the World Health Organization (WHO) issues guidelines to prohibit or restrict using antibiotics to feed animals reared for their meat. Urgent coordinated actions are needed to avoid the end of modern medicine. The author Martin Khor is the Executive Director of the South Centre. This article was also published by Inter Press Service (IPS) (more…)

Research Paper 82, November 2017

The International Debate on Generic Medicines of Biological Origin

The debate on generic medicines is not new. What makes it different today is that attacks levelled against biological products are couched in ever more “technical” and abstruse language that confuses even the World Health Organization (WHO).

(more…)

Policy Brief 45, October 2017

The Value Added of the United Nations General Assembly High–Level Political Declaration on Antimicrobial Resistance

In September 2016, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York held a dedicated meeting to muster strong political commitment for an effective global response to the problem of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). As a result, a High-Level Political Declaration on Antimicrobial Resistance was adopted.

(more…)