Chronic diseases: The global epidemic

Photo by Mykenzie Johnson on Unsplash

The WHO’s first “Global Status Report” defines noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular disorders, cancer or diabetes as a “slow-motion catastrophe.” Newly industrialized and industrializing countries are the greatest victims of these noncommunicable diseases. 80% of deaths due to cardiovascular disorders, cancer or diabetes were recorded among the poor and under-privileged populations in developing and newly industrializing countries. (Photo by Mykenzie Johnson on Unsplash)

Global cancer cases to rise by more than 75% by 2050, WHO predicts

World Health Organization says lower-income countries will record the biggest proportional increases

Global cancer cases to rise by more than 75% by 2050, WHO predicts
Foto von National Cancer Institute auf Unsplash

Global cancer cases to rise by more than 75% by 2050, WHO predicts

World Health Organization says lower-income countries will record the biggest proportional increases

The Guardian "Global cancer cases are predicted to rise by more than 75% by 2050, according to the World Health Organization. Latest figures from the WHO’s cancer arm, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, makes plain the growing burden of cancer, rising from 14.1 million new cases and 8.2 million deaths worldwide in 2012 to 20 million new cases and 9.7 million deaths a decade later. The IARC predicts there will be more than 35 million new cancer cases by 2050, an increase of 77% from 2022 levels, and that deaths will have nearly doubled since 2012 to more than 18 million."

04.10.2023 – The Lancet

Women, power, and cancer: a need for change and a force for progress

A Lancet Commission

Women, power, and cancer: a need for change and a force for progress
Foto von Becca Tapert auf Unsplash
04.10.2023 – The Lancet

Women, power, and cancer: a need for change and a force for progress

A Lancet Commission

"Eliminating suffering from cancer requires action across all of society: governments, industry, academia, health-care institutions, non-profit organisations, and diverse communities. Everyone in society has a role in contributing to progress against cancer, ranging from adhering to cancer prevention approaches and working in communities to leading large organisations. In this context, women in particular bring unique and essential perspectives to every interaction, at every level of society. The Lancet Commission on women, power, and cancer presents a comprehensive, global view of how the unique difficulties that women face can limit their ability to overcome the challenges that cancer presents, both for themselves and for society overall. The Commission sheds light on important gaps in the oncology workforce, where many capable women are still held back from leadership opportunities due to long-held gender biases, workplace harassment, or lack of support or mentorship."

02.08.2023 – Health Policy Watch

Africa’s High Cancer Deaths Can Be Addressed by Improved Access to Key Medicines

Africa’s High Cancer Deaths Can Be Addressed by Improved Access to Key Medicines
AEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi meets african ministers at the opening of "Rays of Hope, Cancer Care for All" launching at the Summit of Heads of States of the African Union. (...) Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. 4 February 2022. Photo: Dean Calma / IAEA/flickr.com; CC BY 2.0
02.08.2023 – Health Policy Watch

Africa’s High Cancer Deaths Can Be Addressed by Improved Access to Key Medicines

"Africa has one of the highest cancer death rates in the world, yet this could be markedly improved by better access to treatments already widely available in high-income countries for the continent’s biggest killers – breast, cervical, lung and prostate cancers and Kaposi sarcoma. This is according to a recent study by the Botswana-Rutgers Partnership for Health, which researched which cancer treatments that are effective in other regions could have an impact in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) – but are not available or hard to get."

04.07.2023 – The Lancet

Global, regional, and national burden of diabetes from 1990 to 2021, with projections of prevalence to 2050: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Global, regional, and national burden of diabetes from 1990 to 2021, with projections of prevalence to 2050: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
Foto von Sweet Life auf Unsplash
04.07.2023 – The Lancet

Global, regional, and national burden of diabetes from 1990 to 2021, with projections of prevalence to 2050: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

"Diabetes is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide, and affects people regardless of country, age group, or sex. Using the most recent evidentiary and analytical framework from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD), we produced location-specific, age-specific, and sex-specific estimates of diabetes prevalence and burden from 1990 to 2021, the proportion of type 1 and type 2 diabetes in 2021, the proportion of the type 2 diabetes burden attributable to selected risk factors, and projections of diabetes prevalence through 2050."

The Lancet Commission on ending stigma and discrimination in mental health

The Lancet Commission on ending stigma and discrimination in mental health
Photo by Ümit Bulut on Unsplash

The Lancet Commission on ending stigma and discrimination in mental health

The Lancet "It is time to end all forms of stigma and discrimination against people with mental health conditions, for whom there is double jeopardy: the impact of the primary condition and the severe consequences of stigma. Indeed, many people describe stigma as being worse than the condition itself. This Lancet Commission report is the result of a collaboration of more than 50 people worldwide. It brings together evidence and experience of the impact of stigma and discrimination and successful interventions for stigma reduction. We include material that brings alive the voices of people with lived experience of mental health conditions (PWLE). This is right in principle because we agree with the view of nothing about us without us. It is right in practice because the evidence summarised in this report shows that PWLE are the key change agents for stigma reduction. For these reasons, this report has been co-produced by people who have such lived experience and others who do not."

WHO Unveils ‘Invisible Numbers’ of the NCD Crisis as Leaders Meet at United Nations

WHO Unveils ‘Invisible Numbers’ of the NCD Crisis as Leaders Meet at United Nations
ICRC runs a tri-weekly mobile health clinic in Nana Outta in the central part of Central African Republic (CAR). Photo: EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid/flickr.com; CC BY-ND 2.0

WHO Unveils ‘Invisible Numbers’ of the NCD Crisis as Leaders Meet at United Nations

Health Policy Watch "Around two-thirds of Africans with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) die prematurely – before the age of 70. In Europe, less than a third of people living with NCDs die that early. This is just one of the stark statistics contained in the most extensive data-visualization tool yet produced by the World Health Organization (WHO) to assist countries in identifying the scale and costs of the global NCD crisis."

Time to Invest in Preventing and Treating NCDs

Time to Invest in Preventing and Treating NCDs
Photo: rootsofhealth/flickr.com; CC BY-NC 2.0

Time to Invest in Preventing and Treating NCDs

Health Policy Watch "If all countries significantly raise taxes on tobacco, alcohol and sugary beverages, this could prevent 50 million premature deaths over the next 50 years, according to Michael Bloomberg, World Health Organization (WHO) Global Ambassador for Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs) and Injuries. “Plus, the taxes would raise more than $20 trillion in revenue to support public health programmes, helping to save even more lives,” Bloomberg told a virtual event convened to make a global appeal for more investment in NCDs."

12.09.2022 – Swiss TPH

Coping with emerging public health problems

Interview with Nicole Probst-Hensch, Head of the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at Swiss TPH

Coping with emerging public health problems
Photo: © Swiss TPH
12.09.2022 – Swiss TPH

Coping with emerging public health problems

Interview with Nicole Probst-Hensch, Head of the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at Swiss TPH

"Around a quarter of the population in Switzerland suffers from chronic diseases. These are some of the most frequent causes of death and cause physical and mental stress as well as high health care costs. Swiss TPH has extensive expertise in long-term studies involving biobanks that conduct research into chronic diseases and the impact of behavioural and environmental factors. Samples stored in biobanks and linked to the health data of the sample donors supply the evidence for successful prevention and health promotion. They also help us to understand the long-term health impacts of air pollution, heatwaves, traffic noise or chemicals. Swiss TPH is therefore making an important contribution to health monitoring in collaboration with other research institutions. In addition, biobanks are also the bedrock of medical progress in the early detection and diagnosis of chronic diseases, especially in cooperation with private companies."

05.08.2022 – The Lancet Oncology

Cancer in sub-Saharan Africa: a Lancet Oncology Commission

Cancer in sub-Saharan Africa: a Lancet Oncology Commission
Photo by Albert González Farran, UNAMID/flickr. com; CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
05.08.2022 – The Lancet Oncology

Cancer in sub-Saharan Africa: a Lancet Oncology Commission

"In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), urgent action is needed to curb a growing crisis in cancer incidence and mortality. Without rapid interventions, data estimates show a major increase in cancer mortality from 520 348 in 2020 to about 1 million deaths per year by 2030. Here, we detail the state of cancer in SSA, recommend key actions on the basis of analysis, and highlight case studies and successful models that can be emulated, adapted, or improved across the region to reduce the growing cancer crises. Recommended actions begin with the need to develop or update national cancer control plans in each country. Plans must include childhood cancer plans, managing comorbidities such as HIV and malnutrition, a reliable and predictable supply of medication, and the provision of psychosocial, supportive, and palliative care."

05.07.2022 – Public Eye

How Switzerland danced to the Nestlé tune

Against warning labels on junk food in Mexico

How Switzerland danced to the Nestlé tune
Photo: Nestlé/flickr. com; CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
05.07.2022 – Public Eye

How Switzerland danced to the Nestlé tune

Against warning labels on junk food in Mexico

"Mexico has implemented black STOP-style signs on unhealthy foods to combat the country’s rampant obesity trend. However, the project was met with fierce resistance from multinational companies and their host states. At the forefront: Nestlé and Switzerland. Documents and e-mail exchanges show how willingly the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs jumped in to defend the food giant’s commercial interests against Mexico’s health policy. According to exclusive market data obtained by Public Eye, the business at stake for Nestlé was worth more than one billion Swiss francs. The research also shows that Switzerland’s intervention in Mexico is far from being an isolated case."

07.06.2022 – The Lancet Oncology

Cancer in sub-Saharan Africa

Report by a Lancet Oncology Commission

Cancer in sub-Saharan Africa
Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash
07.06.2022 – The Lancet Oncology

Cancer in sub-Saharan Africa

Report by a Lancet Oncology Commission

"The Lancet Oncology Commission on cancer in sub-Saharan Africa highlights the rapidly escalating cancer burden in this resource-poor area of the world. Long affected by infectious diseases and malnutrition, the population of this region is now increasingly afflicted by non-communicable diseases, including cancer. However, the fragile health systems in the 46 sub-Saharan African nations are poorly equipped to tackle this looming health crisis, with many problems including incomplete cancer data registries, poor availability of and access to screening, diagnostics, and treatment, insufficient provision of palliative care, and a huge shortfall of trained medical personnel compounding the deteriorating situation. In this Commission, the authors describe these challenges in detail, and propose actions that must be taken urgently to address the escalating catastrophe. Ultimately, political will and effective collaboration between multiple stakeholders is needed to reach the achievable goal of improved cancer care in sub-Saharan Africa."

20.05.2022 – Global Health Action

The role of non-governmental organizations in strengthening healthcare systems in low- and middle-income countries: Lessons from Santé Diabète in Mali

The key lesson from this study is that to be effective in changing the management of noncommunicable diseases in a low- and middle-income country, non-governmental organizations need to play a variety of roles, many of which may change over time.

The role of non-governmental organizations in strengthening healthcare systems in low- and middle-income countries: Lessons from Santé Diabète in Mali
Photo: UNMEER/Simon Ruf/flickr, CC BY-ND 2.0
20.05.2022 – Global Health Action

The role of non-governmental organizations in strengthening healthcare systems in low- and middle-income countries: Lessons from Santé Diabète in Mali

The key lesson from this study is that to be effective in changing the management of noncommunicable diseases in a low- and middle-income country, non-governmental organizations need to play a variety of roles, many of which may change over time.

"Non-governmental organizations play a vital part in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals as defined by the United Nations. These Goals also include targets related to noncommunicable diseases. However, non-governmental organizations have played a limited role in this area despite such diseases causing the bulk of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Through their activities, non-governmental organizations should aim to strengthen health systems, yet they often only support these for a single disease. Mali, like many other low- and middle-income countries, is facing an increasing burden of diabetes and a health system not adapted to address this challenge. Santé Diabète, a non-governmental organization based in Mali since 2003, has been working specifically on diabetes, and has developed a wide range of activities to improve the national health system."

13.05.2022 – Health Policy Watch

World Health Assembly Offers Opportunity to Integrate NCDs into Pandemic Responses

Biggest focus in a decade

World Health Assembly Offers Opportunity to Integrate NCDs into Pandemic Responses
Photo: United States Mission Geneva/flickr/CC BY-ND 2.0
13.05.2022 – Health Policy Watch

World Health Assembly Offers Opportunity to Integrate NCDs into Pandemic Responses

Biggest focus in a decade

"The upcoming World Health Assembly (WHA) has the biggest focus on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in a decade – and offers an opportunity to ensure that NCDs are integrated into future responses to pandemics and other health emergencies. This is according to Katie Dain, CEO of the NCD Alliance, who urged attendees at a high-level NCD briefing before the WHA on 22 May, to highlight solutions in order to encourage countries that it is possible to address NCDs. This comes in the wake of statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO) NCD Progress Monitor 2022 that show COVID-19 has pushed back countries’ gains against cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes in particular."

15.11.2021 – World Health Organization (WHO)

New WHO report maps barriers to insulin availability and suggests actions to promote universal access

New WHO report maps barriers to insulin availability and suggests actions to promote universal access
Photo by Matt Chesin on Unsplash
15.11.2021 – World Health Organization (WHO)

New WHO report maps barriers to insulin availability and suggests actions to promote universal access

"Geneva, 12 November 2021 – A new report published by WHO in the lead-up to World Diabetes Day highlights the alarming state of global access to insulin and diabetes care, and finds that high prices, low availability of human insulin, few producers dominating the insulin market and weak health systems are the main barriers to universal access."

04.10.2021 – STAT

For the first time, WHO committee recommends action on high-priced essential medicines

For the first time, WHO committee recommends action on high-priced essential medicines
Photo by Halacious on Unsplash
04.10.2021 – STAT

For the first time, WHO committee recommends action on high-priced essential medicines

"For the first time, a World Health Organization committee has recommended the global agency form a working group to explore policies for contending with the high prices of medicines that are considered essential, but unaffordable in many low and middle-income countries. The suggestion was made in the latest report about treatments to be added to the WHO list of essential medicines. The list, which is updated every two years, contains the most effective, safe and cost‐effective drugs for treating high-priority illnesses and running a functioning health care system. For this reason, the list is influential because many countries consult the list for determining reimbursement."

Worldwide trends in hypertension prevalence and progress in treatment and control from 1990 to 2019

High blood pressure now more common in low and middle-income countries, new report finds: A pooled analysis of 1201 population-representative studies with 104 million participants

Worldwide trends in hypertension prevalence and progress in treatment and control from 1990 to 2019
Photo by Mufid Majnun on Unsplash

Worldwide trends in hypertension prevalence and progress in treatment and control from 1990 to 2019

High blood pressure now more common in low and middle-income countries, new report finds: A pooled analysis of 1201 population-representative studies with 104 million participants

The Lancet "Hypertension can be detected at the primary health-care level and low-cost treatments can effectively control hypertension. We aimed to measure the prevalence of hypertension and progress in its detection, treatment, and control from 1990 to 2019 for 200 countries and territories."

03.09.2021 – Practical DIABETES

Access to insulin: a comparison between low- and middle-income countries and the United Kingdom

By David Beran (Division of Tropical & Humanitarian Medicine, University of Geneva & Geneva University Hospitals) et al.

Access to insulin: a comparison between low- and middle-income countries and the United Kingdom
Photo by Matt Chesin on Unsplash
03.09.2021 – Practical DIABETES

Access to insulin: a comparison between low- and middle-income countries and the United Kingdom

By David Beran (Division of Tropical & Humanitarian Medicine, University of Geneva & Geneva University Hospitals) et al.

"Insulin was discovered 100 years ago but, sadly, across the globe there are significant inequities in access to this life-saving medicine. Here, the authors investigate such inequities, the challenges of available and affordable insulin, its delivery systems and blood glucose monitoring. Challenges not only include costs but also the lack of expertise in managing diabetes care. Now is the time for those in the diabetes community to come together to address the global issue of access to insulin for all."

02.08.2021 – World Health Organization (WHO)

WHO reports progress in the fight against tobacco epidemic

Highlights threats posed by new nicotine and tobacco products

WHO reports progress in the fight against tobacco epidemic
Photo by Grav on Unsplash
02.08.2021 – World Health Organization (WHO)

WHO reports progress in the fight against tobacco epidemic

Highlights threats posed by new nicotine and tobacco products

Many countries are making progress in the fight against tobacco, but a new World Health Organization report shows some are not addressing emerging nicotine and tobacco products and failing to regulate them. (...) For the first time, the 2021 report presents new data on electronic nicotine delivery systems, such as ‘e-cigarettes’. These products are often marketed to children and adolescents by the tobacco and related industries that manufacture them, using thousands of appealing flavours and misleading claims about the products.

MMS Health for All Podcast

Season 3

MMS Health for All Podcast

MMS Health for All Podcast

Season 3

Medicus Mundi Switzerland Season 3 of the MMS “Health for All” podcast portrays six people working in the fields of mental health and rights who are dedicated to lifting the taboos, fight for human rights and equality.

31.05.2021 – Health Policy Watch

Diabetes Resolution Promoting Insulin Access Gathers Support at World Health Assembly

Diabetes Resolution Promoting Insulin Access Gathers Support at World Health Assembly
Photo by Diabetesmagazijn.nl on Unsplash
31.05.2021 – Health Policy Watch

Diabetes Resolution Promoting Insulin Access Gathers Support at World Health Assembly

"A draft resolution on expanding prevention and treatment for diabetes now appears set for approval at this week’s World Health Assembly – after a number of European countries, as well as the US, removed their opposition to language mandating the World Health Organization to develop targets for expanded diabetes treatment – as well as measures encouraging greater price transparency in the insulin market."

22.04.2021 – Health Policy Watch

Despite South Africa’s Sugar Tax Success, Food Industry Impedes Similar Taxes in Neighbouring Countries

Despite South Africa’s Sugar Tax Success, Food Industry Impedes Similar Taxes in Neighbouring Countries
Photo: Ted Eytan/flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0
22.04.2021 – Health Policy Watch

Despite South Africa’s Sugar Tax Success, Food Industry Impedes Similar Taxes in Neighbouring Countries

"CAPE TOWN – South Africans are consuming fewer sugary drinks since their government introduced a tax on these in 2018 – but powerful multinational food and beverage companies are inhibiting neighbouring countries from following suit, according to research published on Tuesday. South Africa was the first African country to impose a tax of approximately 10% on the sugar in sweetened soft drinks in an attempt to curb rising obesity and related diseases including diabetes and hypertension. Last week, the Lancet published a four-year study that looked at the sugar consumption of 113,000 South African households and found per capita daily sugar consumption dropped from 16.25g before the tax was announced to 10.63g in the year after the tax was implemented."

01.03.2021 – International Journal of Health Policy Management (IJHPM)

Competing Frames in Global Health Governance: An Analysis of Stakeholder Influence on the Political Declaration on Non-communicable Diseases

Competing Frames in Global Health Governance: An Analysis of Stakeholder Influence on the Political Declaration on Non-communicable Diseases
Photo by Bethan Abra on Unsplash
01.03.2021 – International Journal of Health Policy Management (IJHPM)

Competing Frames in Global Health Governance: An Analysis of Stakeholder Influence on the Political Declaration on Non-communicable Diseases

"Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are increasingly recognized as a significant threat to health and development globally, and United Nations (UN) Member States adopted the Political Declaration of the Third High-level Meeting (HLM) on the prevention and control of NCDs in 2018. The negotiation process for the Declaration included consultations with Member States, intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), and non-state actors such as non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the private sector. With NCD responses facing charges of inadequacy, it is important to scrutinize the governance process behind relevant high-level global decisions and commitments."

World Diabetes Day: 9th Diabetes Atlas & link between TB-tobacco-diabetes

WEBINAR

World Diabetes Day: 9th Diabetes Atlas & link between TB-tobacco-diabetes

World Diabetes Day: 9th Diabetes Atlas & link between TB-tobacco-diabetes

WEBINAR

International Diabetes Federation (IDF) 9th Diabetes Atlas was released by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) on World Diabetes Day 2019. This Webinar, presents highlights of this 9th Diabetes Atlas we well as latest data, analysis and link between diabetes, tobacco, and tuberculosis (TB), among other issues. This Webinar also has a message from Barrister Shameem Haider Patwary, Member of Parliament, Bangladesh, who is part of APCAT (Asia Pacific Cities Alliance for Tobacco Control & NCDs Prevention) & Asia Pacific Parliamentarians' Caucus for tobacco control and NCDs prevention. (Photo: GovernmentZA/flickr, CC BY-ND 2.0)

Zuckerkrankheit: Ein Todesurteil im ländlichen Tansania

Zuckerkrankheit: Ein Todesurteil im ländlichen Tansania

Zuckerkrankheit: Ein Todesurteil im ländlichen Tansania

SolidarMed Zwei Dosen Insulin täglich und sehr viel Selbstdisziplin erlauben der 25-jährigen Salvina heute ein fast normales Leben. Dank einer genialen Erfindung überlebt sie trotz ihrer Zuckerkrankheit auch unter extremen Bedingungen. (...) Salvina Kilunda ist heute 25 Jahre alt. An den meisten Orten in Afrika südlich der Sahara wäre sie bereits tot. In ihrer Pubertät traten immer stärkere Schmerzen in den Beinen auf. Darmbeschwerden häuften sich. Sie verlor an Gewicht. Als sie schliesslich das Spital in Lugala aufsuchte, war sie nur noch Haut und Knochen. Die Diagnose: eine Typ–1 Kinderdiabetes. Salvina bildete kein körpereigenes Insulin, ihr Zucker-Stoffwechsel war gestört und damit ihr Leben ernsthaft gefährdet. (Foto: SolidarMed)

The Global Syndemic of Obesity, Undernutrition, and Climate Change

The Lancet Commission report

The Global Syndemic of Obesity, Undernutrition, and Climate Change

The Global Syndemic of Obesity, Undernutrition, and Climate Change

The Lancet Commission report

The Lancet "Malnutrition in all its forms, including obesity, undernutrition, and other dietary risks, is the leading cause of poor health globally. In the near future, the health effects of climate change will considerably compound these health challenges. Climate change can be considered a pandemic because of its sweeping effects on the health of humans and the natural systems we depend on (ie, planetary health). These three pandemics—obesity, undernutrition, and climate change—represent The Global Syndemic that affects most people in every country and region worldwide."(Photo: Kuwaiti NGO Helps Reduce Malnutrition in Darfur/United Nations Photo/flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Coca-Cola influences China’s obesity policy, BMJ report says

Institute funded by Coke promotes exercise over diet to protect sales, academic says

Coca-Cola influences China’s obesity policy, BMJ report says

Coca-Cola influences China’s obesity policy, BMJ report says

Institute funded by Coke promotes exercise over diet to protect sales, academic says

The Guardian The Coca-Cola Company has shaped China’s policies towards its growing obesity crisis, encouraging a focus on exercise rather than diet and thereby safeguarding its drinks sales, an academic investigation has alleged. (Photo: Mike Licht/flickr, CC BY 2.0)

The Lancet Commission on global mental health and sustainable development

The Lancet Commission on global mental health and sustainable development

The Lancet Commission on global mental health and sustainable development

The Lancet The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represent an exponential advance from the Millennium Development Goals, with a substantially broader agenda affecting all nations and requiring coordinated global actions. The specific references to mental health and substance use as targets within the health SD reflect this transformative vision. (...) Despite substantial research advances showing what can be done to prevent and treat mental disorders and to promote mental health, translation into real world effects has been painfully slow. (Photo: Free Images/flickr, CC BY 2.0)

Switzerland’s schizophrenic attitude towards access to NCD medicines

Med in Switzerland #12 September 2018

Switzerland’s schizophrenic attitude towards access to NCD medicines

Switzerland’s schizophrenic attitude towards access to NCD medicines

Med in Switzerland #12 September 2018

Medicus Mundi Schweiz The political declaration of the UN high-level meeting on NCDs lacks recognition that medicine prices are excessive and hinder universal access. But a clear reference to public health safeguards was at least included, thanks to the fight back of G77 countries and civil society writes Patrick Durisch. (Photo: Swiss authorities must act to make lifesaving drugs more affordable by introducing compulsory licensing, says NGO Public Eye/ © Sebastien Gerbe)

MMS Bulletin: No ‘business as usual’ against non-communicable diseases

MMS Bulletin #145: Swiss online journal for international cooperation and health

MMS Bulletin: No ‘business as usual’ against non-communicable diseases

MMS Bulletin: No ‘business as usual’ against non-communicable diseases

MMS Bulletin #145: Swiss online journal for international cooperation and health

Medicus Mundi Switzerland A diabetes epidemic in Mexico, cardiovascular diseases in Tanzania – non-communicable diseases have long since arrived in low-income countries and are posing huge challenges for healthcare services there. Politicians have for a long time underestimated the problem and, in doing so, have opened the door for the proliferation of the global food and tobacco industries. Their health-endangering products are significant causes for the spread of non-communicable diseases in developing countries and emerging economies. What options do politicians have left to counter such developments? Which role do civil society organisations play and what responsibility does Switzerland bear in the battle against chronic diseases? In the upcoming UN High-Level Meeting on non-communicable diseases, the international community is being challenged to finally put the necessary political measures in place. In its 2017 Symposium the Medicus Mundi Switzerland network intensively discussed the challenges and responsibilities and we are publishing some of the contributions and debates in our current MMS Bulletin. (Photo: © Vietnam Matthew Dakin/Novartis Foundation)

WHO Bulletin – special issue on healthy ageing

November 2017

WHO Bulletin – special issue on healthy ageing

WHO Bulletin – special issue on healthy ageing

November 2017

World Health Organisation (WHO) "This month’s issue has a special focus on healthy ageing, as introduced by John R Beard et al. in the first editorial. Dulce M Cruz-Oliver et al. expand on this theme in a second editorial with a discussion of end-of-life care in low and middle-income countries. Both editorials obviously focus on health policies & global frameworks in this respect, but it is also worth to draw attention to this paragraph: “ … Perhaps the most important barriers to ensuring that the SDG’s are inclusive of older people are pervasive misconceptions, negative attitudes and assumptions about older age. Ageism remains socially acceptable, strongly institutionalized, largely undetected and unchallenged. Ageism is a powerful barrier to developing good public policy, because it limits the way issues are framed and addressed..." (Editorial by John R Beard et al.) Photo: Peter van Eeuwijk/ Universität Basel

Is it still possible to get the global pollution under control?

The Lancet Commission on pollution and health

Is it still possible to get the global pollution under control?

Is it still possible to get the global pollution under control?

The Lancet Commission on pollution and health

The Lancet Global pollution has increased dramatically in recent decades, threatening above-average vulnerable populations in middle and low-income countries. 92% of the deaths from environmental pollution occur in these countries, 70% of them due to chronic diseases. The newly established "Lancet Commission on pollution and health" warns with six recommendations on swift action and criticizes international development and health cooperation for having neglected the problem too long. Also in the current WHO "Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases", so the further criticism, the problem is hardly mentioned. (Photo: Scavengers Burning Trash, Tondo Garbage Dump, Manila Philippines/Adam Cohn/flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Tobacco industry is bullying African countries

Tobacco industry is bullying African countries

Tobacco industry is bullying African countries

The Guardian The African market with its growing numbers of children and young people and its increasing wealth, represents a huge outlet for the giant tobacco industries. The "British American Tobacco (BAT)" is attempting to capture this market by all means and is not afraid fighting through the African courts in order to avert protections and laws that prevent the population from the harm (and killing) consequences of smoking. Laws that have long been standard in rich countries. The Guardian got undisclosed court documents which reveale these aggressive and intimidatory tactics that tobacco companies are using. (Photo: Lynae Zebest / Flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Mental Health: A Forgotten Facet of Healthcare

MMS Bulletin #142, June 2017

Mental Health: A Forgotten Facet of Healthcare

Mental Health: A Forgotten Facet of Healthcare

MMS Bulletin #142, June 2017

MMS Globally close to 450 million people have mental health disorders; more than 75% of that number live in developing countries. According to the World Health Organization, 85% of patients in developing countries with serious mental disorders receive no treatment at all. For the first time, world leaders are recognizing the promotion of mental health and wellbeing (SDG Goal 3.4) and the prevention and treatment of substance abuse (SDG Goal 3.5) as part of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Unless governments tackle mental health, they will not meet the SDG 3 targets. Medicus Mundi Switzerland addresses the issue of mental health as part of its annual focus on non-communicable diseases. (Illustration: WHO's World Health Day Campaign 2017 "Let's Talk")

Cancer rates are soaring in Africa, yet Tanzania's radiotherapy hub stands idle

A state-of-the-art oncology clinic lacks the funding and staff to get its equipment up and running, despite thousands of people requiring life-saving treatment

Cancer rates are soaring in Africa, yet Tanzania's radiotherapy hub stands idle

Cancer rates are soaring in Africa, yet Tanzania's radiotherapy hub stands idle

A state-of-the-art oncology clinic lacks the funding and staff to get its equipment up and running, despite thousands of people requiring life-saving treatment

The Guardian The newly built wing of the Bugando Hospital in Tanzania's second-largest city is empty and deserted. Built as a modern oncology department, many cancer patients should have been given here an appropriate diagnosis and therapy in order to avoid the cumbersome and expensive way to the therapy center in Dar es Salaam, which is 1000 km away. But the financial resources are lacking in order to employ the medical staff and to put the new X-ray department into operation. A tragic in face of the explosive rise in cancer patients. Meanwhile more women in Tanzanian die due to cervical cancer than during childbirth. (Photo: Direct Relief / Bugando Medical Center, Tanzania / flickr, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Early cancer diagnosis saves lives

Early cancer diagnosis saves lives

Early cancer diagnosis saves lives

World Health Organisation (WHO) Cancer is diagnosed too late. The new WHO guidelines are intended to improve the early diagnosis of these diseases worldwide. One important step is to educate the population about early symptoms of cancer and encourage them to visit a health care facility in time. (Photo: Community Eye Health / flickr)

New in this Dossier

A tobacco-free world by 2040?

A Lancet Series

A tobacco-free world by 2040?

A tobacco-free world by 2040?

A Lancet Series

The Lancet A tobacco-free world by 2040? The Lancet In it's edition of 14 March 2015 "The Lancet" launches a campaign for a tobacco-free world by 2040. The editors write: "Current global anti-tobacco strategies are failing. We endorse the Series' call for a UN high-level Summit on tobacco use to reinvigorate global and national efforts to achieve a tobacco-free world by 2040. The time has come for not only greater WHO leadership, but also leadership from the UN Secretary-General, because tobacco is not just a threat to health, it is also a threat to sustainable human development." (Photo: Jonathan Kos-Read/flickr)

Background

Social, political and economic determinants

Political commitment against Chronic Diseases

A tobacco-free world by 2040?

A Lancet Series.

A tobacco-free world by 2040?

A tobacco-free world by 2040?

A Lancet Series.

The Lancet In it's edition of 14 March 2015 "The Lancet" launches a campaign for a tobacco-free world by 2040. The editors write: "Current global anti-tobacco strategies are failing. We endorse the Series' call for a UN high-level Summit on tobacco use to reinvigorate global and national efforts to achieve a tobacco-free world by 2040. The time has come for not only greater WHO leadership, but also leadership from the UN Secretary-General, because tobacco is not just a threat to health, it is also a threat to sustainable human development." (Photo: Jonathan Kos-Read/flickr)

Health promotion and prevention

06.10.2021 – Medicus Mundi Switzerland + AT Schweiz

Call for papers MMS Bulletin #160: Fighting Tobacco in LMICs (working title)

This MMS Bulletin is produced in collaboration with AT Schweiz (Swiss Association for Tobacco Control)

Call for papers MMS Bulletin #160: Fighting Tobacco in LMICs (working title)
Photo by Afif Kusuma on Unsplash
06.10.2021 – Medicus Mundi Switzerland + AT Schweiz

Call for papers MMS Bulletin #160: Fighting Tobacco in LMICs (working title)

This MMS Bulletin is produced in collaboration with AT Schweiz (Swiss Association for Tobacco Control)

In this MMS bulletin, we aim to draw attention to global tobacco consumption and its consequences for human health and the environment. We want to take a critical look at the aggressive methods employed by the tobacco industry and show the detrimental effect tobacco has on achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Measures necessary to address these issues should be identified (best practice examples) and the existing abuses and challenges discussed, with the focus on middle and low income countries. For more information and some key questions from our perspective, please see the document enclosed.

Call for papers

Global Alliances