Medicine price transparency is a sticky issue at WHA

The World Health Assembly reports that universal health coverage is gaining momentum, but many governments are intent on keeping their medicine prices secret.
The World Health Assembly reports that universal health coverage is gaining momentum, but many governments are intent on keeping their medicine prices secret.
Coca-Cola South Africa denies that it cut the sugar content of its drinks in response to government’s tax on sugary drinks.
Passionate and principled, the Health Minister has led massive victories over HIV during the past decade. But as South Africa attempts to introduce complex changes to our health system, is it time for an operations person rather than a firefighter?
Profit seems to be the only logic driving medicine prices, with some African countries paying more for medicine than European countries, and US citizens paying some of the highest medicine prices in the world. There are global efforts to rein in excessive profiteering but removing the secrecy around prices is complicated.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is calling upon governments to put an end to the secrecy that rules in the field of pharmaceutical products when they meet this week at the World Health Organisation Fair Pricing Forum to discuss access to essential medicines.
WATER CASE STUDY: Parys residents say their tap water is dirty and stinks like rotten eggs, and experts say it's because of sewage going into the Vaal River.
South Africa is part of a ‘pariah group’ of countries not yet certified polio-free, thanks to weaknesses in our disease surveillance and vaccination programme. The Department of Health is determined to win back its certificate next month, and launched an immunisation coverage survey last week to investigate the nation’s vaccination rate.
South Africa is part of a ‘pariah group’ of countries not yet certified polio-free, thanks to weaknesses in our disease surveillance and vaccination programme. The Department of Health is determined to win back its certificate next month, and launched an immunisation coverage survey last week to investigate the nation’s vaccination rate.
A London patient appears to have been cured of HIV after a bone marrow transplant from a donor with a special genetic mutation.
A London patient appears to have been cured of HIV after a bone marrow transplant from a donor with a special genetic mutation.
The Department of Health will move its headquarters from the “sick” Civitas Building after almost a year of protest action from unions.
The Department of Health will move its headquarters from the “sick” Civitas Building after almost a year of protest action from unions.