Latest news with #FitsumLakewAlemayehu
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Supply of life-saving medical products could be delayed by government freeze: 'This is a huge mess to untangle'
The Trump administration's freeze of foreign aid has halted many people's access to crucial ongoing medications for HIV, malaria, and other high-risk diseases. These problems are in line with what officials have said are unintended consequences of sweeping government freezes and cuts, though they remain unaddressed thus far. Now, experts say that the consequences of the USAID freeze are disrupting the medical product supply chain and driving up prices for life-saving treatments. As Reuters reported, USAID typically spends about $600 million annually on medicines, equipment, and diagnostic tests to help people in disadvantaged countries. However, the agency has now been cut off from spending, and there are far-reaching implications. Medication and medical supply orders, which are usually made months in advance, are now on hold. Patients receiving continuous treatments can no longer receive necessary care. Meanwhile, the global health supply chain is experiencing ripple effects from the foreign aid freeze. Experts say that a considerable backlog is already forming and that treatment prices will increase because of the order disruptions. Fitsum Lakew Alemayehu, African Union liaison manager at WACI Health, told Reuters, "There will be a huge backlog. In Africa, millions have been on those treatments." "This is a huge mess to untangle," said Health Response Alliance's CEO Tom Cotter. The news of halted foreign aid for essential medical treatments is concerning in the short term and the long term. There will be immediate effects for the people who cannot continue with the treatments they started. When you're choosing health and beauty products, which of these factors is most important to you? Cost Brand name Ingredients Packaging Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Even if the funding freeze lasts only 90 days during a review period, as President Donald Trump initially indicated, production, delivery, and potentially legal issues will still need to be resolved before medicine and supply delivery can continue as in the past. This news is also concerning because of the rise in vector-borne illnesses worldwide. Our planet's steady overheating is creating ideal conditions for mosquitoes to breed and thrive. These insects are adapting to the rising temperatures, increasing the disease risks for people worldwide, especially in poor regions without access to readily available medications. Companies that supply medical products are closely monitoring the halted foreign aid situation to help patients continue to gain access to the medications they depend on. Yet much is currently uncertain as HIV clinics close, emergency food aid halts, and research stops. Given this uncertainty, communities must take preventative action to protect vulnerable people's health and curb our worsening climate conditions. Although some diseases are unpreventable, there are simple actions individuals can take to protect themselves from other conditions. For example, you can keep disease-carrying mosquitoes out of your yard and garden with naturally repelling plants like lavender and marigolds. Fortunately, there are many alternatives to toxic chemicals that you can use to keep mosquitoes away and reduce your disease risks. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Zawya
21-02-2025
- Health
- Zawya
US aid freeze sows disruption in HIV, malaria product supply chains
The U.S. government's foreign aid freeze has upended the supply chain for medical products crucial for fighting diseases including HIV and malaria in some of the world's poorest countries, and life-threatening gaps could persist for months, according to two sources familiar with the sector. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) usually places around $600 million of orders annually for products such as medicines, diagnostic tests and equipment like bed nets, as part of one of its biggest health supply contracts including HIV, malaria and reproductive health. But the freeze has put orders and forecasts, particularly those made months in advance, on hold. That will likely have far-reaching implications for deliveries, cost, and timings, according to two sources with knowledge of the global health supply chain and others working in the sector. Companies including the U.S. firm Abbott, Switzerland's Roche, and India's Cipla are all likely to be affected, alongside others including Hologic , Viatris, Hetero and Aurobindo, the first of the sources told Reuters. "We are monitoring the situation closely. Our highest priority is to ensure that patients have continuous access to our diagnostic tests and treatments around the world," said a Roche spokesperson in response to Reuters' questions. The other companies either declined to comment or did not respond. The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The first source said waivers from the U.S. government, intended to allow lifesaving work to restart, only applied to orders already moving around the world. Even those were not fully functional as the USAID payment system remained down, he said. Future funding and orders were more uncertain, even for companies where the raw materials have been assembled or the manufacturing capacity booked, he added. Medicines and diagnostic tests for HIV and malaria, as well as preventive tools like bed nets and contraceptives, could be impacted, he said. "There will be a huge backlog," said Fitsum Lakew Alemayehu, the African Union liaison manager at WACI Health, an African advocacy organization. "In Africa, millions have been on those treatments." 'BULLWHIP' EFFECT The dismantling of USAID has already had significant impact across the globe, including shuttering HIV clinics, stranding emergency food aid, and halting research. For medical supplies, the freeze could also hit prices, because companies have been able to operate more efficiently knowing that they would continue to get orders from USAID, all of the sources said. Prashant Yadav, a medical supply chain expert and senior fellow at the nonpartisan Council on Foreign Relations think tank, said the upheaval could upend this system of advance demand forecasts entirely, hitting prices and ultimately risking budget shortfalls across other buyers, like governments and global health funders. He said it was an example of the "bullwhip" effect in supply chains, where "any small changes, even if they are for a short duration of time, get amplified at every level in the system". The term is derived from a scientific concept in which movements of a whip are amplified from the origin - the hand cracking the whip - to the endpoint. Even if the aid freeze ends after a 90-day review, as the Trump administration originally suggested, restarting production will be complex and there could be legal issues, several experts said. "This is a huge mess to untangle," said Tom Cotter, chief executive officer at Health Response Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring equitable access to health services during emergencies. (Reporting by Jennifer Rigby, additional reporting by Maggie Fick in London, Rishika Sadam in Hyderabad)
Reuters
21-02-2025
- Business
- Reuters
US aid freeze sows disruption in HIV, malaria product supply chains
LONDON, Feb 21 (Reuters) - The U.S. government's foreign aid freeze has upended the supply chain for medical products crucial for fighting diseases including HIV and malaria in some of the world's poorest countries, and life-threatening gaps could persist for months, according to two sources familiar with the sector. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) usually places around $600 million of orders annually for products such as medicines, diagnostic tests and equipment like bed nets, as part of one of its biggest health supply contracts including HIV, malaria and reproductive health. But the freeze has put orders and forecasts, particularly those made months in advance, on hold. That will likely have far-reaching implications for deliveries, cost, and timings, according to two sources with knowledge of the global health supply chain and others working in the sector. Companies including the U.S. firm Abbott (ABT.N), opens new tab, Switzerland's Roche (ROG.S), opens new tab, and India's Cipla ( opens new tab are all likely to be affected, alongside others including Hologic (HOLX.O), opens new tab, Viatris (VTRS.O), opens new tab, Hetero and Aurobindo ( opens new tab, the first of the sources told Reuters. "We are monitoring the situation closely. Our highest priority is to ensure that patients have continuous access to our diagnostic tests and treatments around the world," said a Roche spokesperson in response to Reuters' questions. The other companies either declined to comment or did not respond. The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The first source said waivers from the U.S. government, intended to allow lifesaving work to restart, only applied to orders already moving around the world. Even those were not fully functional as the USAID payment system remained down, he said. Future funding and orders were more uncertain, even for companies where the raw materials have been assembled or the manufacturing capacity booked, he added. Medicines and diagnostic tests for HIV and malaria, as well as preventive tools like bed nets and contraceptives, could be impacted, he said. "There will be a huge backlog," said Fitsum Lakew Alemayehu, the African Union liaison manager at WACI Health, an African advocacy organization. "In Africa, millions have been on those treatments." 'BULLWHIP' EFFECT The dismantling of USAID has already had significant impact across the globe, including shuttering HIV clinics, stranding emergency food aid, and halting research., opens new tab For medical supplies, the freeze could also hit prices, because companies have been able to operate more efficiently knowing that they would continue to get orders from USAID, all of the sources said. Prashant Yadav, a medical supply chain expert and senior fellow at the nonpartisan Council on Foreign Relations think tank, said the upheaval could upend this system of advance demand forecasts entirely, hitting prices and ultimately risking budget shortfalls across other buyers, like governments and global health funders. He said it was an example of the "bullwhip" effect in supply chains, where "any small changes, even if they are for a short duration of time, get amplified at every level in the system". The term is derived from a scientific concept in which movements of a whip are amplified from the origin - the hand cracking the whip - to the endpoint. Even if the aid freeze ends after a 90-day review, as the Trump administration originally suggested, restarting production will be complex and there could be legal issues, several experts said. "This is a huge mess to untangle," said Tom Cotter, chief executive officer at Health Response Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring equitable access to health services during emergencies. here.
