Latest news with #WHO
The National
41 minutes ago
- Health
- The National
Patients dying in Gaza amid evacuation delays, MSF warns
More than 56,000 Palestinians have been killed and around 125,000 wounded since the October 7 attacks. Despite most of the country's healthcare infrastructure being destroyed by military strikes amidst the genocide, MSF says that Israel has 'reduced medical evacuations to a minimum'. In May, the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned that Gaza's health systems were stretched beyond breaking point as a result of continued ground offensives and evacuation orders. READ MORE: Six children among 10 people killed by Israel at water collection point The number of patients requiring medical evacuations is between 12,000 and 15,000, according to the United Nations (UN) and Red Cross, though a study in the BMJ released last week shows only 5383 have occurred. Doctor Hani Isleem, MSF project coordinator for medical evacuations from Gaza, has urged Israeli authorities to allow for more evacuations and called for support from other nations to assist Gazan patients. In a statement, Dr Isleem said: "We are looking for countries, we really want them to open their doors, to accept more and more cases because those patients are dying inside Gaza. 'According to the WHO, at least 12,000 patients need to be evacuated outside Gaza to access vital medical care. The medical evacuation process is very complex and it is changing according to the [military] stages in Gaza. We can divide the phases into four. 'Before the closure of the Rafah border on May 7 [2024], it was directly from Gaza to Egypt and from Egypt to a third country. 'Then during the closure of the Rafah border, it was happening through Kerem Shalom [crossing point] directly from Gaza to Israel and from Israel with two options, either to EU countries or to Jordan, and then transiting to other countries. 'During the ceasefire, those stages changed again and [medical evacuations] went through the Rafah border. And after the collapse of the ceasefire, it went again through Kerem Shalom with very limited options.' Medical evacuation requires clearance from COGAT – the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories – a coordination body in Israel that manages governmental activities in occupied Palestinian territory. READ MORE: Labour council takes no action against councillor who grabbed Gaza protester by neck Dr Isleem said decisions made by the body are 'often arbitrary and opaque', with many cases denied or delayed regardless of severity. Palestinians suffering from chronic illnesses and diseases like cancer and cardiovascular issues are amongst those requiring urgent evacuations, alongside those injured in Israeli strikes. According to MSF, medical evacuations from Gaza remain severely limited due to overwhelming health needs, administrative barriers, and a lack of willing host countries. Even when patients are approved to leave, accompanying family members are often denied, resulting in painful separations, Dr Isleem said in his statement, noting that these restrictions have discouraged countries that initially tried to help, with many eventually abandoning their efforts. He continued to say that Gaza's healthcare system is overstretched, and medical evacuations are subject to strict medical and administrative criteria imposed by receiving countries. Only a few nations accept patients, and some fear being seen as supporting forced migration or taking on long-term care responsibilities. MSF managed to evacuate just 22 patients to countries like the UAE, France, and Canada – far fewer than the thousands initially identified by the organisation. 'A clear and predictable medical evacuation system, with safe corridors and without family separations, must be urgently established while ensuring Palestinians' right to return to the Gaza Strip after treatment', Dr Isleem continued. READ MORE: BBC breached editorial guidelines in axed Gaza documentary, review finds 'We are calling on the Israeli authorities to allow patients to leave Gaza and to be more flexible in the approval of [medical] cases. 'We are asking all the countries to be on the side of the Gazan people by allowing more and more cases to have access to their health care systems, participating in the medical evacuations and saving the lives of people." Dr Mohammed (Abu Abed) Abu Mughaisib – the deputy medical coordinator for MSF's operations in Palestine – told The National that evacuations are moving "very slowly". "Once every two weeks you have a medical evacuation", he said. "Since the ceasefire was broken in March, it's been moving very slowly. The waiting list [has] thousands of people waiting to be medically evacuated."
New Statesman
an hour ago
- Health
- New Statesman
Every child deserves access to vaccination
Image by Yan Krukau / PIXELS Disclaimer: MSD has funded and had editorial control over this article. Vaccination is one of the most effective public health interventions in human history – second only to clean water in preventing disease . In fact, childhood vaccinations alone prevent an estimated 3.5 to 5 million deaths globally each year. However, the impact goes further: protecting children early helps give them the best possible start in life, making vaccination an important way to tackle health inequalities. In a country where the government has pledged to put prevention at the heart of the NHS and break down barriers to opportunity, ensuring every child has equitable access to routine vaccination must be a national priority. Yet today, too many children are still being left behind. England's childhood vaccination coverage rates (VCRs) have been declining steadily since 2013/14, with the World Health Organization (WHO) target of 95 per cent coverage not met in any part of the childhood immunisation schedule. Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccination – once the symbol of UK immunisation success – has fallen to its lowest level in 15 years, with coverage at age five reaching a new low in 2023/24. This is not an abstract risk. In 2024 alone, there were 2,911 confirmed measles cases in England – the highest annual total since 2012. The UK briefly regained its WHO measles elimination status during the Covid-19 pandemic, but with case numbers now rising sharply, that status is at serious risk and, according to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), it is unlikely to be sustained. Beneath these national figures lie deeper, structural inequalities. Coverage is not just falling – it is falling unequally. London consistently reports the lowest childhood vaccination rates, and has been the epicentre of recent measles outbreaks. In 2024, research found that socioeconomic inequalities in coverage are widening across the childhood immunisation schedule. Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe The introduction of maternal vaccination against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has shown similar patterns, with women from black ethnic groups appearing to be particularly underserved, echoing longstanding disparities seen in maternal pertussis vaccination coverage. This puts babies' health at risk from the very beginning of life. These gaps persist as children grow into adolescence, with variation across regions and demographics observed in meningococcal and human papillomavirus vaccination. These are not isolated issues. They are symptomatic of a system that has not fully adapted to meet the needs of all its communities. So what now? To achieve the high, equitable vaccination coverage rates needed to protect children from vaccine-preventable disease, programmes must meet the needs of all communities. The NHS Vaccination Strategy published in 2023 rightly proposed more joined-up and accessible provision, better tailored to population need. As the Government delivers a new 10-Year Health Plan and explores wider NHS structural reform, it has a timely opportunity to turn that ambition into action. First, the NHS must expand vaccination capacity across the system. Community pharmacy has underpinned Covid-19 and flu vaccination in recent years, and in parts of London, supported pneumococcal vaccination for older adults too. The pharmacy sector has shown appetite to take on a greater role in the delivery of routine adult vaccination – harnessing its trusted position in the heart of local communities to make vaccination more accessible and understandable, while freeing up GP time to focus on routine childhood appointments. But expanding capacity is only one piece of the puzzle. Vaccination services must be redesigned in partnership with local authorities, voluntary organisations and community leaders to reach those who are persistently underserved. That means understanding the local barriers to vaccination – from mistrust around vaccination to inconvenient appointment times and locations – and tackling them head-on with tailored, data-driven interventions. Second, we must address vaccination hesitancy and misinformation with fresh urgency and nuance, recognising that not all communities with low coverage are hesitant. For many, the challenge is one of information, communication and confidence. For example, in socially disadvantaged groups including ethnic minority populations and migrants, historic distrust in healthcare systems and lower health literacy have been identified as barriers to vaccination. We should learn from the Covid-19 pandemic, where community champions helped deliver trusted, culturally appropriate messages and built confidence in the vaccination offer. That model should be revived and embedded for routine childhood immunisations. Third, we must stay responsive to new evidence and be ready to act on innovation. When the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) recommends the introduction of new vaccination programmes, implementation must be timely, equitable, and adequately resourced. If the government is serious about a prevention-first NHS, recovering childhood vaccination must be a top priority. This is not just about preventing disease today. It is about building the health, resilience and opportunity of tomorrow. As MSD's UK Public Health Lead, I hear from local system leaders, clinicians and community partners about the growing urgency to act and the frustration of knowing what works but not yet seeing it consistently delivered. For every child who misses out on vaccination, the cost is more than clinical – it is generational. Reversing the decline in childhood vaccination is not just a public health imperative, but a test of our commitment to a fairer, prevention-first NHS. With reform on the horizon, now is the moment to act: to understand the factors driving variation, to evolve service provision accordingly, and ensure every child gets the protection they deserve. Footnotes Job bag: GB-NON-11624 Date of preparation: July 2025 Related
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
WHO endorses Gilead's Yeztugo for HIV prevention
The World Health Organization (WHO) is recommending the use of Gilead Sciences' newly approved injectable version of lenacapavir to fight HIV, as separate research forecasts a rise in cases in Africa amid foreign aid cuts. Announced at the 13th International AIDS Society Conference (IAS 2025) on HIV Science, in Kigali, Rwanda, the policy sees injectable lenacapavir – known under the brand name Yeztugo – added to the world's arsenal of tools endorsed by the WHO to curb HIV cases and end the epidemic. Lenacapavir was first approved in 2022 under the brand name Sunlenca for the treatment of HIV infection in adults with multi-drug resistance. An injectable version of lenacapavir given twice a year was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last month, licensed as a pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) option for HIV prevention. The approval of Yeztugo was hailed as a historical breakthrough by HIV experts and charities. The Elton John AIDS Foundation commented that the drug 'will fundamentally bend the curve of new HIV infections'. The WHO says that the vaccine offers a highly effective, long-acting alternative to daily oral pills and other shorter-acting options. Data reported by Gilead from a Phase III trial showed that Yeztugo led to a 96% reduction in the risk of acquiring HIV. The more accessible dosing will also improve adherence and stigma, meaning more people are likely to take the drug. WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: 'While an HIV vaccine remains elusive, lenacapavir is the next best thing: a long-acting antiretroviral shown in trials to prevent almost all HIV infections among those at risk. 'The launch of WHO's new guidelines, alongside the FDA's recent approval, marks a critical step forward in expanding access to this powerful tool. WHO is committed to working with countries and partners to ensure this innovation reaches communities as quickly and safely as possible.' GlobalData analysts stated that the approval of Yeztugo is a 'momentous step in improving PrEP options available for people vulnerable to contracting HIV'. However, a potential barrier to its global uptake could be cost, with the US list price for Yeztugo sitting at $28,218 per year for each patient. For comparison, GSK's Apretude – the only other injectable PrEP therapy available in the US – costs $22,000 per year, though this is given monthly. The amount of foreign aid that supports Yeztugo's rollout in Africa will therefore impact its availability. Despite scientific breakthroughs such as Yeztugo, the WHO's recommendation comes at a time of concern from public health experts about the impact of foreign aid cuts on HIV cases. Research suggests that cuts in funding made by US President Donald Trump are set to increase transmission rates in Africa. Clinical trial operations, diagnostic testing, and drug availability have already been impacted. The US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which invested significant amounts of money into HIV prevention and treatment last year, has had its funding pulled by the Trump administration. A report by UNAIDS predicts that six million new HIV infections and four million AIDS-related deaths could occur between 2025 and 2029 if US-supported HIV treatment and prevention services collapse. The WHO itself has been searching for funding recently, after Trump said the US – historically the largest contributor to the organisation – would stop sending money. Member states of the organisation agreed earlier this year to pay 20% more in membership fees to stopgap the US funding shortfall, though WHO's overall budget for 2026-2027 will be lower than that for 2024-2025. "WHO endorses Gilead's Yeztugo for HIV prevention" was originally created and published by Pharmaceutical Technology, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
One in five women in WHO Southeast Asia region covered under health insurance, study estimates
New Delhi: About one in every five women in the WHO Southeast Asia Region , including India, are covered under a health insurance, a study published in The Lancet Regional Health Southeast Asia has estimated. One in eight women in the region - defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) - were enrolled in social security schemes. At the same time, only one in thirteen had privately purchased or commercial insurance, the analysis reveals. The 'WHO Southeast Asia Region' includes India, among other countries such as Bangladesh, Myanmar and Indonesia. Researchers from Health Systems Transformation Platform and Population Council Consulting Private Limited, New Delhi, also found that one in four men in the region had health insurance coverage, with the highest prevalence seen in Indonesia at over 56 per cent and lowest in Myanmar at about 1.5 per cent. In India, the prevalence of health insurance uptake was 53 per cent among women and 56 per cent among men, the team found. The highest levels of health insurance coverage for women and men in the region were found in Indonesia, while the lowest levels were reported in Bangladesh and Myanmar, respectively. Equity in accessing quality healthcare without experiencing financial hardship is key to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) - one of the core aims of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals - especially in low- and middle-income countries in the WHO Southeast Asia Region, the authors of the study said. They added that healthcare demands and costs are expected to rise in the region as populations age. However, high out-of-pocket expenditures remain a barrier despite health insurance programmes in the region, they said. The study analysed socioeconomic and demographic factors to estimate coverage under any health insurance, using data from Demographic and Health Surveys (2015-2022) conducted in the WHO Southeast Asia Region every five years. "Approximately one in five women in the region were covered by any form of health insurance," the authors wrote. "In contrast, one in four men in the region had any health insurance coverage, with the highest prevalence observed in Indonesia (56.6 per cent) and the lowest in Myanmar (1.4 per cent)," they wrote. Older age, higher education levels, and higher exposure to media were found to positively influence insurance coverage for both men and women in India, Indonesia, Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar. Further, beyond individual factors, contextual ones such as government commitment, design and implementation of insurance schemes and economic conditions are crucial in determining health insurance coverage, the authors said. Traditional beliefs and a lack of trust in formal financial systems can hinder insurance adoption among South Asian communities, they added. Evidence suggests that in rural areas of India, Nepal and Bangladesh, people relied on community-based informal support systems over formal insurance, reflecting cultural preferences that affect enrolment rates, the team said. The study's findings, therefore, highlight that country-specific contexts need to be addressed to effectively expand health insurance coverage, the authors said. They suggested policies should prioritise building sustainable health financing systems, making healthcare infrastructures more resilient, and fostering widespread awareness in the community about the benefits of health insurance. Further, strategies aimed at resolving socioeconomic disparities and for the underinsured populations are vital in advancing equitable health insurance access and accelerating progress towards UHC, the team said. PTI
Hans India
3 hours ago
- Health
- Hans India
Vietnam's major cities intensify efforts to combat dengue fever surge
Hanoi: Vietnam's two largest cities, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, are stepping up measures to tackle a sharp rise in dengue fever cases in recent weeks, Vietnam News Agency reported Monday. In Hanoi, 34 new infections were reported last week, marking an increase of 13 cases from the previous week, according to the capital's Centre for Disease Control. The centre has identified several outbreak clusters with high mosquito density and warned that infections are likely to rise as the city enters its annual peak season for the disease. Meanwhile, health authorities in Ho Chi Minh City have issued an urgent alert after six dengue-related deaths were recorded since the beginning of the year, Xinhua news agency reported, quoting the Vietnam News Agency. The southern metropolis registered 838 new cases in the past week alone, bringing the total to 14,370 cases this year, a surge of more than 153 per cent compared to the same period last year, the state-owned media reported. Local residents have been urged to eliminate standing water, regularly clean water containers and report potential mosquito breeding grounds via a designated health app. According to the World Health Organization, Dengue is a viral infection that spreads from mosquitoes to people. It is more common in tropical and subtropical climates. Most people who get dengue will not have symptoms. But for those who do, the most common symptoms are high fever, headache, body aches, nausea, and rash. Most will get better in 1–2 weeks. Some people develop severe dengue and need care in a hospital. In severe cases, dengue can be fatal. You can lower your risk of dengue by avoiding mosquito bites, especially during the day. Dengue is treated with pain medicine as there is no specific treatment currently. The incidence of dengue has grown dramatically around the world in recent decades, with cases reported to WHO increasing from 505,430 cases in 2000 to 5.2 million in 2019. A vast majority of cases are asymptomatic or mild and self-managed, and hence, the actual numbers of dengue cases are under-reported. Many cases are also misdiagnosed as other febrile illnesses. The highest number of dengue cases was recorded in 2023, affecting over 80 countries in all regions of the WHO. Since the beginning of 2023, ongoing transmission, combined with an unexpected spike in dengue cases, has resulted in a historic high of over 6.5 million cases and more than 7300 dengue-related deaths reported.
