EXCLUSIVE: WHO Regional Directors Running for Director-General Must Take Leave for Campaign 28/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen In a first, WHO Regional Directors must take a leave of absence to run for the top job, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed to Health Policy Watch on Monday. This sweeping election reform closes a crucial loophole in the ongoing Director-General election process, aiming to curb shadow campaigns just as the first candidates officially […] Continue reading -> New Unitaid Head Gets High Marks – but Can He Save the Organization? 28/07/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher Luis Pizarro, Unitaid’s newly-appointed Executive Director comes to the organization with sizeable depth and breadth of experience – as the leader of Geneva’s Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi) and before that, leadership of ventures in Africa, Asia and the Americas. However, his main challenge at Unitaid will be steadying the financially troubled organization, which […] Continue reading -> US Drives 25% Plunge in HIV Funding in 2025 27/07/2026 Kerry Cullinan RIO DE JANEIRO – Donor funding for HIV dropped by 25% in 2025 – a staggering drop of $2.1 billion – driven by the United States slashing its funding, according to analyses by KFF and the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). This is the largest single-year drop ever, reducing funds to 2007 levels, according […] Continue reading -> Africa’s New Medicines Regulator Wants to be More than Another Approval Channel 27/07/2026 Paul Adepoju When the African Medicines Agency became operational in Kigali in October 2025, it inherited one of the continent’s most difficult health-policy problems: how to make medicines regulation faster, more trusted and less fragmented across 55 African Union member states. For years, African countries have relied on a patchwork of national regulators, regional harmonisation initiatives, WHO […] Continue reading -> Markets Offer Costly Cures while Courts Ensnare Prevention; meanwhile Ebola Response Stumbles 27/07/2026 Mukesh Kapila A trillion-dollar food industry sues to keep prevention at bay while governments spend billions subsidising the drugs that treat what bad diets do. Meanwhile, Ebola outruns a hollowed-out WHO, and its Director-General’s legacy hangs on whether he can get a grip. ‘If all else fails, sue’ Last week’s most telling global health story was not […] Continue reading -> Amid Row Over Exclusion, US Concedes that HIV Approach Needs to Include ‘All People at Risk’ 26/07/2026 Kerry Cullinan RIO DE JANEIRO – The United States has conceded that the HIV epidemic cannot be stopped “unless we have services for all people at risk” at a major event on the eve of the International AIDS Conference. Dr Rebecca Bunnell, deputy head of implementing the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), made the […] Continue reading -> African Union Pushes for Greater Domestic Spending on Health Amid Reports of Huge Disruptions to HIV Services 24/07/2026 Kerry Cullinan The African Union held a special health summit this week, primarily aimed at mobilising high-level political support for more domestic health spending – particularly on HIV, tuberculosis and maternal health. The summit coincided with the release of two new studies reporting on the huge disruptions to HIV treatment throughout the world following the Trump administration’s […] Continue reading -> In India, Cancer Is Increasingly Costing Survivors Their Livelihoods 23/07/2026 Arsalan Bukhari & Mehrunnisa Maryam Life was normal for 27-year-old Delhi-based lawyer Deeba Fariyal until six years ago when she was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma, a rare soft-tissue cancer that typically affects young adults. Since then, she has endured six relapses, leaving her with few treatment options. All the treatments have stopped working,” she said. “My cancer is one of […] Continue reading -> Global Food Security Improves, Although Billions Still Lack Affordable Healthy Diets 22/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen About 43 million fewer people are undernourished today compared to a peak in 2022, during the COVID pandemic. Yet undernutrition and a lack of diet affordability still haunt more than half a billion people globally. Crises and conflicts increase risks. Global food security improved slightly in 2025 as hunger fell to 7.8% from 8.1% in […] Continue reading -> France Passes Strict Youth Social Media Ban But New Law Lacks Strong Enforcement Mechanism 22/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen France has adopted a strict youth social media ban for minors under 15, taking effect in September. But major enforcement hurdles remain, as lawmakers stripped the bill of direct platform sanctions to avoid clashing with European Union rules. The law also faces a constitutional review over the fundamental rights of children and parents. Minors under […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
New Unitaid Head Gets High Marks – but Can He Save the Organization? 28/07/2026 Elaine Ruth Fletcher Luis Pizarro, Unitaid’s newly-appointed Executive Director comes to the organization with sizeable depth and breadth of experience – as the leader of Geneva’s Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi) and before that, leadership of ventures in Africa, Asia and the Americas. However, his main challenge at Unitaid will be steadying the financially troubled organization, which […] Continue reading -> US Drives 25% Plunge in HIV Funding in 2025 27/07/2026 Kerry Cullinan RIO DE JANEIRO – Donor funding for HIV dropped by 25% in 2025 – a staggering drop of $2.1 billion – driven by the United States slashing its funding, according to analyses by KFF and the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). This is the largest single-year drop ever, reducing funds to 2007 levels, according […] Continue reading -> Africa’s New Medicines Regulator Wants to be More than Another Approval Channel 27/07/2026 Paul Adepoju When the African Medicines Agency became operational in Kigali in October 2025, it inherited one of the continent’s most difficult health-policy problems: how to make medicines regulation faster, more trusted and less fragmented across 55 African Union member states. For years, African countries have relied on a patchwork of national regulators, regional harmonisation initiatives, WHO […] Continue reading -> Markets Offer Costly Cures while Courts Ensnare Prevention; meanwhile Ebola Response Stumbles 27/07/2026 Mukesh Kapila A trillion-dollar food industry sues to keep prevention at bay while governments spend billions subsidising the drugs that treat what bad diets do. Meanwhile, Ebola outruns a hollowed-out WHO, and its Director-General’s legacy hangs on whether he can get a grip. ‘If all else fails, sue’ Last week’s most telling global health story was not […] Continue reading -> Amid Row Over Exclusion, US Concedes that HIV Approach Needs to Include ‘All People at Risk’ 26/07/2026 Kerry Cullinan RIO DE JANEIRO – The United States has conceded that the HIV epidemic cannot be stopped “unless we have services for all people at risk” at a major event on the eve of the International AIDS Conference. Dr Rebecca Bunnell, deputy head of implementing the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), made the […] Continue reading -> African Union Pushes for Greater Domestic Spending on Health Amid Reports of Huge Disruptions to HIV Services 24/07/2026 Kerry Cullinan The African Union held a special health summit this week, primarily aimed at mobilising high-level political support for more domestic health spending – particularly on HIV, tuberculosis and maternal health. The summit coincided with the release of two new studies reporting on the huge disruptions to HIV treatment throughout the world following the Trump administration’s […] Continue reading -> In India, Cancer Is Increasingly Costing Survivors Their Livelihoods 23/07/2026 Arsalan Bukhari & Mehrunnisa Maryam Life was normal for 27-year-old Delhi-based lawyer Deeba Fariyal until six years ago when she was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma, a rare soft-tissue cancer that typically affects young adults. Since then, she has endured six relapses, leaving her with few treatment options. All the treatments have stopped working,” she said. “My cancer is one of […] Continue reading -> Global Food Security Improves, Although Billions Still Lack Affordable Healthy Diets 22/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen About 43 million fewer people are undernourished today compared to a peak in 2022, during the COVID pandemic. Yet undernutrition and a lack of diet affordability still haunt more than half a billion people globally. Crises and conflicts increase risks. Global food security improved slightly in 2025 as hunger fell to 7.8% from 8.1% in […] Continue reading -> France Passes Strict Youth Social Media Ban But New Law Lacks Strong Enforcement Mechanism 22/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen France has adopted a strict youth social media ban for minors under 15, taking effect in September. But major enforcement hurdles remain, as lawmakers stripped the bill of direct platform sanctions to avoid clashing with European Union rules. The law also faces a constitutional review over the fundamental rights of children and parents. Minors under […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
US Drives 25% Plunge in HIV Funding in 2025 27/07/2026 Kerry Cullinan RIO DE JANEIRO – Donor funding for HIV dropped by 25% in 2025 – a staggering drop of $2.1 billion – driven by the United States slashing its funding, according to analyses by KFF and the Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). This is the largest single-year drop ever, reducing funds to 2007 levels, according […] Continue reading -> Africa’s New Medicines Regulator Wants to be More than Another Approval Channel 27/07/2026 Paul Adepoju When the African Medicines Agency became operational in Kigali in October 2025, it inherited one of the continent’s most difficult health-policy problems: how to make medicines regulation faster, more trusted and less fragmented across 55 African Union member states. For years, African countries have relied on a patchwork of national regulators, regional harmonisation initiatives, WHO […] Continue reading -> Markets Offer Costly Cures while Courts Ensnare Prevention; meanwhile Ebola Response Stumbles 27/07/2026 Mukesh Kapila A trillion-dollar food industry sues to keep prevention at bay while governments spend billions subsidising the drugs that treat what bad diets do. Meanwhile, Ebola outruns a hollowed-out WHO, and its Director-General’s legacy hangs on whether he can get a grip. ‘If all else fails, sue’ Last week’s most telling global health story was not […] Continue reading -> Amid Row Over Exclusion, US Concedes that HIV Approach Needs to Include ‘All People at Risk’ 26/07/2026 Kerry Cullinan RIO DE JANEIRO – The United States has conceded that the HIV epidemic cannot be stopped “unless we have services for all people at risk” at a major event on the eve of the International AIDS Conference. Dr Rebecca Bunnell, deputy head of implementing the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), made the […] Continue reading -> African Union Pushes for Greater Domestic Spending on Health Amid Reports of Huge Disruptions to HIV Services 24/07/2026 Kerry Cullinan The African Union held a special health summit this week, primarily aimed at mobilising high-level political support for more domestic health spending – particularly on HIV, tuberculosis and maternal health. The summit coincided with the release of two new studies reporting on the huge disruptions to HIV treatment throughout the world following the Trump administration’s […] Continue reading -> In India, Cancer Is Increasingly Costing Survivors Their Livelihoods 23/07/2026 Arsalan Bukhari & Mehrunnisa Maryam Life was normal for 27-year-old Delhi-based lawyer Deeba Fariyal until six years ago when she was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma, a rare soft-tissue cancer that typically affects young adults. Since then, she has endured six relapses, leaving her with few treatment options. All the treatments have stopped working,” she said. “My cancer is one of […] Continue reading -> Global Food Security Improves, Although Billions Still Lack Affordable Healthy Diets 22/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen About 43 million fewer people are undernourished today compared to a peak in 2022, during the COVID pandemic. Yet undernutrition and a lack of diet affordability still haunt more than half a billion people globally. Crises and conflicts increase risks. Global food security improved slightly in 2025 as hunger fell to 7.8% from 8.1% in […] Continue reading -> France Passes Strict Youth Social Media Ban But New Law Lacks Strong Enforcement Mechanism 22/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen France has adopted a strict youth social media ban for minors under 15, taking effect in September. But major enforcement hurdles remain, as lawmakers stripped the bill of direct platform sanctions to avoid clashing with European Union rules. The law also faces a constitutional review over the fundamental rights of children and parents. Minors under […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
Africa’s New Medicines Regulator Wants to be More than Another Approval Channel 27/07/2026 Paul Adepoju When the African Medicines Agency became operational in Kigali in October 2025, it inherited one of the continent’s most difficult health-policy problems: how to make medicines regulation faster, more trusted and less fragmented across 55 African Union member states. For years, African countries have relied on a patchwork of national regulators, regional harmonisation initiatives, WHO […] Continue reading -> Markets Offer Costly Cures while Courts Ensnare Prevention; meanwhile Ebola Response Stumbles 27/07/2026 Mukesh Kapila A trillion-dollar food industry sues to keep prevention at bay while governments spend billions subsidising the drugs that treat what bad diets do. Meanwhile, Ebola outruns a hollowed-out WHO, and its Director-General’s legacy hangs on whether he can get a grip. ‘If all else fails, sue’ Last week’s most telling global health story was not […] Continue reading -> Amid Row Over Exclusion, US Concedes that HIV Approach Needs to Include ‘All People at Risk’ 26/07/2026 Kerry Cullinan RIO DE JANEIRO – The United States has conceded that the HIV epidemic cannot be stopped “unless we have services for all people at risk” at a major event on the eve of the International AIDS Conference. Dr Rebecca Bunnell, deputy head of implementing the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), made the […] Continue reading -> African Union Pushes for Greater Domestic Spending on Health Amid Reports of Huge Disruptions to HIV Services 24/07/2026 Kerry Cullinan The African Union held a special health summit this week, primarily aimed at mobilising high-level political support for more domestic health spending – particularly on HIV, tuberculosis and maternal health. The summit coincided with the release of two new studies reporting on the huge disruptions to HIV treatment throughout the world following the Trump administration’s […] Continue reading -> In India, Cancer Is Increasingly Costing Survivors Their Livelihoods 23/07/2026 Arsalan Bukhari & Mehrunnisa Maryam Life was normal for 27-year-old Delhi-based lawyer Deeba Fariyal until six years ago when she was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma, a rare soft-tissue cancer that typically affects young adults. Since then, she has endured six relapses, leaving her with few treatment options. All the treatments have stopped working,” she said. “My cancer is one of […] Continue reading -> Global Food Security Improves, Although Billions Still Lack Affordable Healthy Diets 22/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen About 43 million fewer people are undernourished today compared to a peak in 2022, during the COVID pandemic. Yet undernutrition and a lack of diet affordability still haunt more than half a billion people globally. Crises and conflicts increase risks. Global food security improved slightly in 2025 as hunger fell to 7.8% from 8.1% in […] Continue reading -> France Passes Strict Youth Social Media Ban But New Law Lacks Strong Enforcement Mechanism 22/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen France has adopted a strict youth social media ban for minors under 15, taking effect in September. But major enforcement hurdles remain, as lawmakers stripped the bill of direct platform sanctions to avoid clashing with European Union rules. The law also faces a constitutional review over the fundamental rights of children and parents. Minors under […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
Markets Offer Costly Cures while Courts Ensnare Prevention; meanwhile Ebola Response Stumbles 27/07/2026 Mukesh Kapila A trillion-dollar food industry sues to keep prevention at bay while governments spend billions subsidising the drugs that treat what bad diets do. Meanwhile, Ebola outruns a hollowed-out WHO, and its Director-General’s legacy hangs on whether he can get a grip. ‘If all else fails, sue’ Last week’s most telling global health story was not […] Continue reading -> Amid Row Over Exclusion, US Concedes that HIV Approach Needs to Include ‘All People at Risk’ 26/07/2026 Kerry Cullinan RIO DE JANEIRO – The United States has conceded that the HIV epidemic cannot be stopped “unless we have services for all people at risk” at a major event on the eve of the International AIDS Conference. Dr Rebecca Bunnell, deputy head of implementing the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), made the […] Continue reading -> African Union Pushes for Greater Domestic Spending on Health Amid Reports of Huge Disruptions to HIV Services 24/07/2026 Kerry Cullinan The African Union held a special health summit this week, primarily aimed at mobilising high-level political support for more domestic health spending – particularly on HIV, tuberculosis and maternal health. The summit coincided with the release of two new studies reporting on the huge disruptions to HIV treatment throughout the world following the Trump administration’s […] Continue reading -> In India, Cancer Is Increasingly Costing Survivors Their Livelihoods 23/07/2026 Arsalan Bukhari & Mehrunnisa Maryam Life was normal for 27-year-old Delhi-based lawyer Deeba Fariyal until six years ago when she was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma, a rare soft-tissue cancer that typically affects young adults. Since then, she has endured six relapses, leaving her with few treatment options. All the treatments have stopped working,” she said. “My cancer is one of […] Continue reading -> Global Food Security Improves, Although Billions Still Lack Affordable Healthy Diets 22/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen About 43 million fewer people are undernourished today compared to a peak in 2022, during the COVID pandemic. Yet undernutrition and a lack of diet affordability still haunt more than half a billion people globally. Crises and conflicts increase risks. Global food security improved slightly in 2025 as hunger fell to 7.8% from 8.1% in […] Continue reading -> France Passes Strict Youth Social Media Ban But New Law Lacks Strong Enforcement Mechanism 22/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen France has adopted a strict youth social media ban for minors under 15, taking effect in September. But major enforcement hurdles remain, as lawmakers stripped the bill of direct platform sanctions to avoid clashing with European Union rules. The law also faces a constitutional review over the fundamental rights of children and parents. Minors under […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
Amid Row Over Exclusion, US Concedes that HIV Approach Needs to Include ‘All People at Risk’ 26/07/2026 Kerry Cullinan RIO DE JANEIRO – The United States has conceded that the HIV epidemic cannot be stopped “unless we have services for all people at risk” at a major event on the eve of the International AIDS Conference. Dr Rebecca Bunnell, deputy head of implementing the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), made the […] Continue reading -> African Union Pushes for Greater Domestic Spending on Health Amid Reports of Huge Disruptions to HIV Services 24/07/2026 Kerry Cullinan The African Union held a special health summit this week, primarily aimed at mobilising high-level political support for more domestic health spending – particularly on HIV, tuberculosis and maternal health. The summit coincided with the release of two new studies reporting on the huge disruptions to HIV treatment throughout the world following the Trump administration’s […] Continue reading -> In India, Cancer Is Increasingly Costing Survivors Their Livelihoods 23/07/2026 Arsalan Bukhari & Mehrunnisa Maryam Life was normal for 27-year-old Delhi-based lawyer Deeba Fariyal until six years ago when she was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma, a rare soft-tissue cancer that typically affects young adults. Since then, she has endured six relapses, leaving her with few treatment options. All the treatments have stopped working,” she said. “My cancer is one of […] Continue reading -> Global Food Security Improves, Although Billions Still Lack Affordable Healthy Diets 22/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen About 43 million fewer people are undernourished today compared to a peak in 2022, during the COVID pandemic. Yet undernutrition and a lack of diet affordability still haunt more than half a billion people globally. Crises and conflicts increase risks. Global food security improved slightly in 2025 as hunger fell to 7.8% from 8.1% in […] Continue reading -> France Passes Strict Youth Social Media Ban But New Law Lacks Strong Enforcement Mechanism 22/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen France has adopted a strict youth social media ban for minors under 15, taking effect in September. But major enforcement hurdles remain, as lawmakers stripped the bill of direct platform sanctions to avoid clashing with European Union rules. The law also faces a constitutional review over the fundamental rights of children and parents. Minors under […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
African Union Pushes for Greater Domestic Spending on Health Amid Reports of Huge Disruptions to HIV Services 24/07/2026 Kerry Cullinan The African Union held a special health summit this week, primarily aimed at mobilising high-level political support for more domestic health spending – particularly on HIV, tuberculosis and maternal health. The summit coincided with the release of two new studies reporting on the huge disruptions to HIV treatment throughout the world following the Trump administration’s […] Continue reading -> In India, Cancer Is Increasingly Costing Survivors Their Livelihoods 23/07/2026 Arsalan Bukhari & Mehrunnisa Maryam Life was normal for 27-year-old Delhi-based lawyer Deeba Fariyal until six years ago when she was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma, a rare soft-tissue cancer that typically affects young adults. Since then, she has endured six relapses, leaving her with few treatment options. All the treatments have stopped working,” she said. “My cancer is one of […] Continue reading -> Global Food Security Improves, Although Billions Still Lack Affordable Healthy Diets 22/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen About 43 million fewer people are undernourished today compared to a peak in 2022, during the COVID pandemic. Yet undernutrition and a lack of diet affordability still haunt more than half a billion people globally. Crises and conflicts increase risks. Global food security improved slightly in 2025 as hunger fell to 7.8% from 8.1% in […] Continue reading -> France Passes Strict Youth Social Media Ban But New Law Lacks Strong Enforcement Mechanism 22/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen France has adopted a strict youth social media ban for minors under 15, taking effect in September. But major enforcement hurdles remain, as lawmakers stripped the bill of direct platform sanctions to avoid clashing with European Union rules. The law also faces a constitutional review over the fundamental rights of children and parents. Minors under […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
In India, Cancer Is Increasingly Costing Survivors Their Livelihoods 23/07/2026 Arsalan Bukhari & Mehrunnisa Maryam Life was normal for 27-year-old Delhi-based lawyer Deeba Fariyal until six years ago when she was diagnosed with synovial sarcoma, a rare soft-tissue cancer that typically affects young adults. Since then, she has endured six relapses, leaving her with few treatment options. All the treatments have stopped working,” she said. “My cancer is one of […] Continue reading -> Global Food Security Improves, Although Billions Still Lack Affordable Healthy Diets 22/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen About 43 million fewer people are undernourished today compared to a peak in 2022, during the COVID pandemic. Yet undernutrition and a lack of diet affordability still haunt more than half a billion people globally. Crises and conflicts increase risks. Global food security improved slightly in 2025 as hunger fell to 7.8% from 8.1% in […] Continue reading -> France Passes Strict Youth Social Media Ban But New Law Lacks Strong Enforcement Mechanism 22/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen France has adopted a strict youth social media ban for minors under 15, taking effect in September. But major enforcement hurdles remain, as lawmakers stripped the bill of direct platform sanctions to avoid clashing with European Union rules. The law also faces a constitutional review over the fundamental rights of children and parents. Minors under […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
Global Food Security Improves, Although Billions Still Lack Affordable Healthy Diets 22/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen About 43 million fewer people are undernourished today compared to a peak in 2022, during the COVID pandemic. Yet undernutrition and a lack of diet affordability still haunt more than half a billion people globally. Crises and conflicts increase risks. Global food security improved slightly in 2025 as hunger fell to 7.8% from 8.1% in […] Continue reading -> France Passes Strict Youth Social Media Ban But New Law Lacks Strong Enforcement Mechanism 22/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen France has adopted a strict youth social media ban for minors under 15, taking effect in September. But major enforcement hurdles remain, as lawmakers stripped the bill of direct platform sanctions to avoid clashing with European Union rules. The law also faces a constitutional review over the fundamental rights of children and parents. Minors under […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts
France Passes Strict Youth Social Media Ban But New Law Lacks Strong Enforcement Mechanism 22/07/2026 Felix Sassmannshausen France has adopted a strict youth social media ban for minors under 15, taking effect in September. But major enforcement hurdles remain, as lawmakers stripped the bill of direct platform sanctions to avoid clashing with European Union rules. The law also faces a constitutional review over the fundamental rights of children and parents. Minors under […] Continue reading -> Posts navigation Older posts