Health

SC Submission to OHCHR for HRC resolution 50/13, January 2025

Submission by the South Centre to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on Inputs for the comprehensive report on ensuring access to medicines, vaccines and other health products (HRC resolution 50/13)

January 2025

The South Centre has provided input for the OHCHR report on new developments and challenges in ensuring access to medicines, vaccines and other health products.

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Book by the South Centre, 2024

Los retos de futuras pandemias

Entre la política y la ciencia

¿Hacia dónde va la salud mundial?

Descripción:

Las nuevas pandemias son inevitables. ¿Cómo podemos estar mejor preparados para ellas y, sobre todo, cómo podemos evitar los errores e injusticias cometidos durante la pandemia de COVID19? Actualmente se están llevando a cabo negociaciones para formular un tratado internacional vinculante sobre prevención y preparación que garantice respuestas más justas a futuras pandemias. Este libro pretende ser una contribución crítica a estos debates en curso.

¿Cómo garantizar un acceso equitativo a los medicamentos y diagnósticos cuando la mayoría de ellos se producen en un número reducido de países? ¿Cómo explicar que la financiación actual de la cooperación sanitaria esté en manos de un pequeño grupo de países y fundaciones del Norte? ¿Cómo reforzar el papel de la Organización Mundial de la Salud, que actualmente desempeña un papel secundario en la coordinación de las políticas de salud pública?  ¿Por qué se ha sustituido el concepto de «medicamentos esenciales», gran avance de la política de salud pública, por el de «contramedidas médicas», término más acorde con el afán de lucro del sector privado?

Autor: Germán Velásquez, Asesor especial sobre políticas y salud, South Centre de Ginebra

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AMR News No. 65, 20 November 2024

South Centre Supports Civil Society and Research Institutions of the Global South to Raise Awareness on Antimicrobial Resistance

The South Centre is pleased to announce its funding support for numerous civil society and research institutions in the Global South to mark World Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Awareness Week (WAAW) 2024. This initiative has continued for six years, contributing to the global response on AMR by empowering grassroots movements and local institutions.

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Book by the South Centre, 2024

Les défis des futures pandémies

Enjeux politiques et négociations internationales

Les défis des futures pandémiesDetails:

De nouvelles pandémies sont inéluctables. Comment mieux s’y préparer et surtout comment éviter les erreurs et injustices commises durant la pandémie du Covid-19 ? Des négociations sont en cours pour formuler un traité international contraignant sur la prévention et la préparation pour des réponses plus justes aux futures pandémies. Ce livre se veut une contribution critique aux débats en cours.

Comment garantir l’accès équitable aux médicaments et diagnostics, alors que la majorité d’entre eux sont produits dans un petit nombre de pays ? Comment expliquer que le financement actuel de la coopération en matière de santé se retrouve entre les mains d’un groupe réduit de pays et fondations du Nord ? Comment renforcer le rôle de l’Organisation mondiale de la santé, qui ne joue plus qu’un rôle mineur dans la coordination des politiques de santé publique ? Comment se fait-il que le concept de « médicaments essentiels », une avancée majeure dans les politiques de santé publique, soit remplacé par celui de « contre-mesures médicales », un terme qui s’accorde plutôt à la logique de profit du secteur privé ?

La préparation aux futures pandémies nous oblige à nous interroger : comment préserver l’intérêt général, la défense des droits de l’homme et la santé publique ?

Auteur: Germán Velásquez est conseiller spécial en matière de politique et de santé au South Centre à Genève.

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Webinar: Enhancing Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance in Developing Countries, 18 November 2024

Webinar: Enhancing Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance in Developing Countries

18 November 2024

Virtual event

Time: 3-4:00 PM CEST / 9-10:00 AM EDT / 7:30 – 8:30 PM IST

The South Centre will organize a webinar during the World Antimicrobial Awareness Week 2024 to highlight essential strategies and success stories in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance and stewardship across developing countries, focusing on bridging gaps in data collection and accuracy. Challenges such as limited funding, technical infrastructure, and trained personnel hinder effective AMR surveillance.

The webinar will explore cost-effective digital solutions, regional collaboration, and resource-efficient strategies to help build resilient AMR surveillance systems, enhancing sustainable antimicrobial stewardship (AMS), combating AMR, saving patient lives, and improving global public health outcomes.

The webinar will have two sessions, designed to provide practical insights and evidence-based recommendations to improve AMR surveillance, policy, and clinical practices, particularly in resource-limited settings.

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South Centre Report, October 2024

Group of 77 and South Centre convening on the Future of Antimicrobial Resistance Response in Developing Countries

Meeting Report

October 2024

On 25 September, the South Centre with the Group of 77 and China discussed solutions for tackling Antimicrobial Resistance and ensuring access to antibiotics and diagnostics.

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SC Statement to the High-Level Meeting on AMR, September 2024

Statement of the South Centre to the High-Level Meeting on AMR

September 2024

The South Centre is committed to support developing countries in tackling antimicrobial resistance. We welcome the opportunity to speak to this Assembly and add our voice to the call for urgent action to tackle this global threat. This year must mark the turning point in the collective efforts backed by new commitments and targets.

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Research Paper 209, 25 September 2024

AMR in Aquaculture: Enhancing Indian Shrimp Exports through Sustainable Practices and Reduced Antimicrobial Usage  

By Robin Paul

This study on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in Indian shrimp farming underscores its critical impact on public health, environmental sustainability, and economic viability. The global scenario with many export rejections on account of persistent residues of antibiotics, reiterate that antimicrobial use in aquaculture, demands urgent global attention.

In the Indian context, the shrimp industry grapples with a delicate balance between production demands and long-term shrimp health. Sustainable practices, including responsible antimicrobial use, are crucial for economic viability, given the industry’s reliance on specific markets like the United States, EU and China.

Sustainable aquaculture emerges as a pivotal solution, supported by government policies and a gradual industry shift towards best practices. However, challenges persist, requiring a comprehensive approach to balance economic interests with environmental conservation. The key challenges remain the large number of small stakeholders and huge geographical spread of farms which make implementation of regulations and sharing of best practices difficult. Traceability and certification programs can play a key role in promoting responsible aquaculture, ensuring transparency and accountability in the supply chain. Technological innovations, including block chain can offer efficient solutions for traceability.

The collaborative action suggested emphasizes the role of government bodies, regulatory agencies, industry players, researchers, and consumers in addressing AMR. Clearer implementable regulatory frameworks aligned with economic and environmental priorities are essential. Looking ahead, the study envisions a future where the blue economy is sustainable not just for the industry’s success but also to protect the wider environment. By enhancing domestic market presence and fostering collaboration with importing countries, the Indian industry can overcome the multiple challenges raised by AMR in shrimp aquaculture.

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AMR News No. 62, 24 September 2024

The United Nations High-level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance on September 26, 2024: Uniting to Enable the Global Response to the Silent Pandemic

By Viviana Munoz Tellez

The “silent pandemic” of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is getting worse and requires a global response built on international cooperation and solidarity. On 26 September 2024, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly will hold a second High Level Meeting on Antimicrobial Resistance. The dedicated meeting is a new effort to bring urgent attention by leaders for increased action on the growing risk of untreatable infections becoming more widespread and of increasing mortality.

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