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COVID-19 exposes weak health systems

In Health Action International’s 40 years exploring and offering solutions to the eternal problem of weak health systems, we have never encountered a situation in which these weaknesses were so…

1 September 2020

COVID-19 and Snakebite: Including the voices of our most marginalised

In the summer of 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched its highly anticipated global strategy on snakebite envenoming. It was a historical milestone that triggered a pipeline of funding…

The significant impact of Health Technology Assessment discussions on national health systems

Every year, Health Action International (HAI) accepts a few bright and ambitious students into its internship programme at our bustling Amsterdam headquarters. This provides valuable educational experience for students who are interested in conducting…

Barriers and facilitators of access to Internationally Controlled Essential Medicines in Kenya

Every year, HAI accepts a few bright and ambitious students into its internship programme at our bustling Amsterdam headquarters. This provides valuable educational experience for students who are interested in conducting research and/or advocacy…

Clinical trials and COVID-19

This piece was written by HAI intern Simon Geukes. Developing viable vaccines and treatments to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic is a research priority worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO)…

COVID-19 And Its Far-Reaching Health Impacts in Sub-Saharan Africa

As the COVID-19 crisis continues to hold the world in its grip, more and more stories and prognoses are emerging about its impact on other aspects of life and health….

Why TRIPS flexibilities are a crucial mechanism for access to medicines

Every year, HAI accepts a few bright and ambitious students into its internship programme at our bustling Amsterdam headquarters. This provides valuable educational experience for students who are interested in conducting research and/or advocacy…

In defence of WHO

It’s very easy to take a pop at the World Health Organization. We do it ourselves – the overheads, the salaries, the business class travel (the fact that as a…

The hidden impact of COVID-19 on sexual and reproductive health

This piece was written by guest contributer Denis Kibira, Executive Director of our partners, HEPS-Uganda. Late January 2020 in my hotel room in Mombasa on the side-lines of a Health…

Reversed gains in the advancement of SRHR in Kenya; effects of COVID-19

This article, by MeTA Kenya Coordinator, Dorothy Okemo, was originally published by Access to Medicine Platform, our partner in Kenya working on the Health Systems Advocacy (HSA) Partnership, and snakebite…

To tackle COVID-19 pandemic, transparency and collaboration are vital

The COVID-19 pandemic is putting societies and their public health systems to an excruciating test, both in the Global North and Global South. The pandemic also lays bare existing shortcomings…

COVID-19, social determinants and frontline workers

Against a background of a world in the grip of COVID-19, the global health community is celebrating the work of nurses and midwives on World Health Day and remembering the…

Health Action International Working from Home

Following the advice of the Dutch Government, Health Action International will continue to work from home until at least 28 April 2020. We are very much aware that we are…

Niets magisch aan medicijnprijzen

Geloof jij in magie? Het is lastig te begrijpen hoe farmaceutische bedrijven de kosten van nieuwe medicijnen bepalen. Farmaceuten houden de werkelijke kosten van biomedisch onderzoek en ontwikkeling (R&D) en…

27 February 2020

Nothing magical about medicine prices

Do you believe in magic? Even for the greatest cynics amongst us, it’s difficult to explain just how pharmaceutical companies determine the cost of medicines they market. Pharmaceutical companies rely…

20 February 2020

US puts pressure on the Netherlands over compulsory licenses

The Embassy of the United States has entered the debate around high priced medicines in the Netherlands and released a statement that expresses concern about the Dutch government’s exploration of…

31 January 2020

A busy week at the Court of Justice of the European Union

Two significant announcements have hugely contributed to the transparency and access to medicines movement in the EU this week. The announcements came from the Luxembourg-based Court of Justice of the…

24 January 2020

How to measure change in EU Policy

It can be difficult to reflect on the importance of achievements as they occur. As another year approaches however, it’s the perfect opportunity to think back on the key moments…

18 December 2019

Health Technology Assessments: will 2020 end the deadlock?

For the last few years Health Action International (HAI) has been working on the issue of joint Health Technology Assessments (HTA). In short, HTA looks at added value of a…

17 December 2019

Is clinical trial transparency under threat?

Last month, HAI and TranspariMED hosted an event in the European Parliament on the issue of clinical trial transparency. The conversation was fruitful – with representatives of the European Commission, the European Medicines…

21 November 2019

An insightful day at the EURIPID stakeholder meeting in Budapest

Research Assistant, Janneke van Oirschot, recently attended a EURIPID Stakeholder meeting in Budapest. Have a go at seeing if you can make sense of this “non-transparent” version of Janneke’s blog…

25 October 2019

Halving snakebite deaths and disabilities by 2030 – How can we reach WHO’s goal?

By Benjamin Waldmann In 2019, estimates suggest that at least 138,000 people will have died and a further 400,000 will be left with permanent disabilities from snakebite. Under-reporting in rural…

10 October 2019

Gender mainstreaming, sustainability and the future of HSA: Partners gather in Kenya for the JAP 2019

Against the backdrop of beautiful Lake Naivasha, members of the Health Systems Advocacy Partnership gathered in Kenya to reflect on past successes, and discuss next steps. The partnership, formed in…

Biased cancer drug trials are only good for one group…and it’s not patients

A new study in The BMJ, partly funded by HAI, found that half of cancer drugs approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) between 2014 and 2016 were based on…

27 September 2019

A Momentous Week for Access to Medicines

by TIM REED, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR This week, in New York, World leaders joined together to adopt a UN Political Declaration on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in what has been billed…

25 September 2019

Working together to end the suffering of pregnant women and families – Photo Essay

A simple complication during pregnancy can lead to devastating consequences for Ugandan families. Preeclampsia affects between 2-8% of pregnant women worldwide. For Ugandan women however, a diagnosis of preeclampsia could…

5 September 2019

Lack of access to ICEMs has disastrous consequences for many. So what’s being done?

This post is part of a two-part series about access to ICEMs. Read about what ICEMs are, and why access is such a problem for so many. In June 2019,…

Access to ICEMs is a fundamental human right, but millions aren’t receiving them

This post is part of a two-part series about access to ICEMs. Read the second part here. It is a scandal of epic proportions that access to internationally controlled essential…

Staff Spotlight: Emma Shiffman

When moving on to a new adventure, it is natural to look back on all the steps you have made to bring you to where you are now. At the…

Civil Society Voice at International Summit to Tackle Global Health Challenge of Antimicrobial Resistance

Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) is arguably the biggest global health challenge we will face this century. Many diseases, including pneumonia, tuberculosis and foodborne diseases are increasingly difficult to treat. The prospect of…