Children in Africa have shown a prevalence of up to 54 percent of HIV strains which display a resistance to one or more commonly used antiretroviral (ARV) drugs according to a study published in Clinical Infectious Diseases. Is this an indication that currently used medications may prove to be ineffective in years to come? Africa has seen a … [Read more...] about Drug resistant HIV and the potential to render current treatments inviable
WHO
Developing nations going against trend of tobacco decline
Are smoking rates in decline? Yes, providing you live in a wealthy nation. While in the western world the trend over the last decade has been a reduction in smoking rates -- often through government policies dissuading people from taking up the habit -- a number of developing nations are seeing a sharp rise in the number of people … [Read more...] about Developing nations going against trend of tobacco decline
The basics about spending on health around the world
Most industrialised countries use about nine percent of GDP for government health spending and about 11 percent of GDP for overall health spending (public and private combined). This chart from the World Bank (based on WHO data) shows the percentage of GDP spent by governments on health and this one the overall health spending. The … [Read more...] about The basics about spending on health around the world
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?
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