The Lancet: Universal health care in 21st century Americas Editorial Board “Despite considerable progress, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) estimates that 30% of the population of the Americas still do not have access to the health care they need because of multifaceted barriers. … The Commission [on Universal Health…

World Economic Forum: How the world can gear up for the fight against cancer Sarbani Chakraborty, lead for health systems capacity at Roche, discusses key approaches for addressing the global threat of cancer, including preventing what is preventable; eradicating tobacco usage; immunizing populations; promoting healthy lifestyle choices; strengthening primary care;…

Devex: Cash transfers debate in Colombia complicates Venezuela response “Humanitarian cash transfers are becoming more accepted within the humanitarian response community as both a more efficient and dignified way to meet basic needs including food and shelter for migrants and refugees. But opting for cash transfers over an in-kind donation…

Thomson Reuters Foundation: Thousands feared at risk after Mexico reforms HIV+ regime “Thousands of Mexicans living with HIV or at risk of infection could be left without life-saving services after the government changed the way it funds treatment, according to public health experts and LGBT+ rights advocates. Reforms announced last…

New York Times: After Years of Denial, Venezuela’s President Allows Aid to Enter “After denying for years that Venezuelans were suffering a humanitarian crisis, the government allowed the Red Cross to send in 24 tons of medical equipment on Tuesday, marking the beginning of a large-scale relief campaign intended to…

Project Syndicate: Will Free Trade Make Africans Sick? Walter Ochieng, doctor, health economist, and Aspen New Voices fellow “…The African Union views the [African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)] as an important step toward integrating the continent and promoting regional trade. Given the experience of other free-trade blocs, however, the…

Health-e News: Tackling the high price of medicine “Profit seems to be the only logic driving medicine prices, with some African countries paying more for medicine than European countries, and U.S. citizens paying some of the highest medicine prices in the world. There are global efforts to rein in excessive…

U.N. Dispatch’s “Global Dispatches Podcast”: A Revolution in Access to Medicine is Underway in Five African Countries Mark Leon Goldberg, editor of U.N. Dispatch and host of the Global Dispatches Podcast, speaks with Gregory Rockson, “co-founder of a social enterprise called mPharma, which uses data analytics and supply chain management…

Devex: Opinion: The ‘global gag rule’ hits PEPFAR implementers, study shows Jennifer Sherwood, policy associate at amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, and Matthea Roemer, Global Health Corps fellow based in Rwanda “January marked the second anniversary of U.S. President Donald Trump’s reinstatement and expansion of the ‘global gag rule’…

Health Policy Watch: WHO-led Fair Pricing Forum Gathers Diverse Groups To Improve Drug Access “A diverse group of civil society, industry, and government representatives convened [Thursday] at the WHO-led 2nd Fair Pricing Forum in Johannesburg, South Africa, in the quest for new solutions that can unlock people’s access to desperately…