Controversy has broken out in India regarding access to two treatments that are used to address drug resistant tuberculosis (TB). The medications, bedaquiline and delamanid are all but unavailable in India, with fewer than 1,000 DR-TB patients in India receiving bedaquiline and only 81 receive delamanid. This has led to calls for the issuing of … [Read more...] about TB ‘miracle cures’ and the issue of high expectations
health
Measles outbreaks in Europe: anti-vaccination movement to blame?
The anti-vaccination movement tends to be thought of as an American phenomenon. Such views have a strong hold in Europe as well - and are posing an increasing challenge to public health across the continent. The movement is hampering progress towards elimination of the measles virus, says the World Health Organization (WHO) in a recent press … [Read more...] about Measles outbreaks in Europe: anti-vaccination movement to blame?
Pharmaceutical research: the price of failure
Creating a single new prescription drug is currently estimated to cost $2.6 billion dollars. This is a sum so vast that only a small number of companies can afford to even consider the possibility. It is also a figure which is overshadowed by one major factor: failure. A staggeringly small number of medications are ever successful. As few as … [Read more...] about Pharmaceutical research: the price of failure
Mosquito-borne illness in 2017
Modern science is in an arms race with mosquito borne disease and climate change is bringing the mosquito threat to the doorsteps of yet more nations. Recent headlines are placing emphasis on the views of the new President of the United States Donald Trump and many of his cabinet appointees, rejecting the scientific consensus on climate change. … [Read more...] about Mosquito-borne illness in 2017
BRICS co-operation on health: where’s the beef?
The Bullet of the World Health Organization has issued a call for papers for a themed issue on "BRICS and global health to enhance people’s understanding of the dynamics of health and development in BRICS countries and of how these countries contribute to global health, both by improving health outcomes in their own territories and by engaging in … [Read more...] about BRICS co-operation on health: where’s the beef?
MERS: two surgeons call for checks on Hajj travellers, thoughtful writing on bugs jumping species
Anything in India's Open magazine is guaranteed to be well-written and probably to take an unusual angle of the news. Open has become a new kind of magazine: somewhere between a news weekly and a review of intellectual trends. Two surgeons write in the current edition about how man's pressure on the environment is causing "our recurring … [Read more...] about MERS: two surgeons call for checks on Hajj travellers, thoughtful writing on bugs jumping species
The WHO’s narrow vision of the private sector is alarming
WHO Director-General, Margaret Chang's speech in Finland earlier this month makes for sad reading. She is, of course, right about the baleful influence of "Big Food, Big Soda, and Big Alcohol". Her idea though is a fight between the forces of good (the public health community) and those of evil (commercial interests). If good wins, regulation and … [Read more...] about The WHO’s narrow vision of the private sector is alarming
Welsh Dimension 1
By Melanie Jenkins Well shwmae a chroeso! Hello and welcome from the heart of Wales's rolling hills and valleys! In a previous post, I had mentioned that Hyderus is a bilingual company – one of those rare organisations that provides services in both English and Welsh. Our website is also currently in the process of being translated into … [Read more...] about Welsh Dimension 1
The Hyderus Chronicles: A typical day at the office in Cwmfelinfach
By Melanie Jenkins Well shwmae a chroeso! Hello and welcome from the heart of Wales's rolling hills and valleys! (In case you missed our post about the Hyderus office and its team, take a look here.) A typical day at the office starts with us setting up calls between colleagues in different countries, arranging visits to conferences in Wales … [Read more...] about The Hyderus Chronicles: A typical day at the office in Cwmfelinfach
The Hyderus Chronicles: Welcome to the Hyderus blog!
Well shwmae a chroeso! Hello and welcome from the heart of Wales's rolling hills and valleys! This blog is something we have been thinking about for a while now, so we’re very happy to be inaugurating it today. This is a space for our very talented team members to share their thoughts and insights, and for you to stay updated about our projects … [Read more...] about The Hyderus Chronicles: Welcome to the Hyderus blog!