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Posted on Categories News 265 Comments on Civil Society Appeals for an Extension on Standards for Intellectual Property Rights on Medicines

Civil Society Appeals for an Extension on Standards for Intellectual Property Rights on Medicines

Uganda –Kampala —Civil society Organizations working on health and access to medicines have today appealed to His Excellence Ambassador Christopher Onyanga Aparr the Permanent Representative to the Permanent Mission of Uganda to the United Nations in Geneva to lead Least developed County (LDC) members of the World Trade Organization (WTO), to act collectively to submit a duly motivated request to the Council on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property (TRIPS) for an indefinite extension of the soon-to-lapse pharmaceutical transition period at the upcoming TRIPS Council meeting on 24th February, 2015.

According to a 2002 WTO TRIPS Council decision, member countries of the WTO considered to be least developed are exempted from enforcing patents and data protections on Pharmaceutical products for until 1st January 2016.

Intellectual properties such as patents raise the costs of medicines because patent holders can eliminate competition which would otherwise lead to cheaper prices. Global studies, including the MSF, Untangling the Web of Antiretroviral Prices routinely show that generic medicines are almost always priced lower than even the discounted prices drug companies sometimes offer to lower-income countries like Uganda.

In a letter dated 16th February, 2014 civil society groups recalled Article 66.1 of the TRIPS Agreement which provides to the effect that the Council for TRIPS “shall, upon duly motivated request by a least-developed country Member, accord extensions”.

In this appeal, the groups are of the view that the extension of the transition period be for as long as an LDC Member State remains a LDC, without conditions, and that it should further motivate waivers of Articles 70.8 and 70.9 to the General Council, also for as long as an LDC Member State remains an LDC. The detailed letter can be accessed here>>

Posted on Categories News 1 Comment on Access to information, Why it should matter for Communities.

Access to information, Why it should matter for Communities.

Today information about the global community is continuously becoming more available yet the space to access information supposedly closer to us and about issues that affect us more directly becomes narrower and narrower. But just to what extent is one entitled to know about activities that go on in their backyard that significantly impact their livelihood when they have no proprietary rights in said activities. Human lives and health are significantly affected by the nature of their environment and the activities that are carried out in their environments and the government has through the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) set up measures to ensure that the environment is not affected by any activities including by requiring impact assessments before such activities are carried out.

Read More Access to information, Why it should matter for Communities.

Posted on Categories News 1,483 Comments on Intangible Cultural Assets of the Framework Convention on Global Health

Intangible Cultural Assets of the Framework Convention on Global Health

By Adaora Ezike, MHS Candidate, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health:

fcghApproaching 2015, the global community awaits the results which will reveal whether priority countries achieved their Millennium Development Goal (MDG) targets. Global health monitoring bodies such as the World Health Organization, advocate for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) as the primary focus of post-2015 sustainable development goals (UNESCO 2012). The Framework Convention on Global Health (FCGH) would create a template for a legally binding global health treaty rooted in the right to health.

Although costly to rollout, the framework convention would be advantageous for advancing and achieving health justice; it could do this by countering intellectual property laws that reduce access to essential medicines, reforming environmental health policies that currently protect the drivers of environmental pollution and by increasing financial transparency of health sector budgets.

Universal health coverage would also be beneficial in leveraging public health efforts to improve availability, accessibility and acceptability of health services and interventions on the population-level. Furthermore, establishing a legal obligation for the government to provide a standard quality of care and coverage could increase overall health efficacy of communities and health seeking behaviors of individuals.READ FULL BLOG

Posted on Categories News 76 Comments on Safe delivery, a reverie for Uganda; Child theft at the peak.

Safe delivery, a reverie for Uganda; Child theft at the peak.

By Nakibuuka Noor Musisi,

Until proper and well-coordinated systems are in place, safe delivery is likely to remain a dream in Uganda. When reports are made about child theft within health care systems, one can think they are just stories but the reality is true. Such happen. Many women have lost their new born babies in the health facilities; the cause of which is yet to be determined.

Just before the High court makes its pronunciation in a case instituted by CEHURD (CEHURD and others V. Executive Director of Mulago National Referral Hospital) on allegations of child theft, another case has again been reported of a lost child within the same health facility, and the only National referral Hospital, under similar circumstances.

Many questions remain unanswered when we see such happen in the country. Could this be the reason behind Uganda’s failure to achieve MDG 4 and 5? Why do children get lost in the facilities? Is it the system failure or it’s the problem of individual health workers that opt for money out of these new born babies? Will the maternal death rates be reduced at this rate of child theft? Are mothers safer to deliver in health facilities or within hands of traditional birth attendants? Such and many more remain unanswered.

It is indeed disturbing to see a mother who goes through the nine months of pregnancy suffer due to system failure.This was the case for Ms. Anyongire Lovis and Mr. Fred Sanyu. It is alleged that the couple was delivered of a beautiful brown fat bouncing baby girl on the night of 2nd January 2014. After a few minutes, the health workers took the baby away noting that she was ‘tired’. The demand to receive their child has since been in vain. They were only given a body of a dark skinned borny baby girl the following day and on refusal of that, another body that fits their description (of a brown fat baby girl) was given to them.

CEHURD has intervened in the matter, we have interviewed the family and hope to meet the administration of Mulago Hospital for further particulars as we collect evidence to institute a health and human rights related case on behalf of the family.

As we progress to advocate for safe motherhood and delivery, many factors have remained constant that ought to lead the country down. Its unfortunate that health facilities that are meant to be safe places for delivery are turning into a market place for new born babies. Such factors coupled with medicine stock outs, poor remuneration of health workers hinder and will continue to hinder safe delivery within the health care system unless addressed.

Posted on Categories News 221 Comments on Non- Communicable Disease on the rise in Uganda; Who is to blame

Non- Communicable Disease on the rise in Uganda; Who is to blame

By Ibrahim Nsereko

ncdsOut of 57 Million deaths that occur globally every year, 63% (36 million) are due to Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs). These NCDs are commonly cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes and chronic lung diseases. The Uganda National Household Survey 2009/10 revealed that Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and their risk factors are now an emerging problem in Uganda although the focus has been directed to infectious diseases to a greater extent. The World Health Organization notes in its 2010 global status report on NCDs, that NCDs are rising rapidly and are projected to exceed communicable maternal, perinatal and nutritional diseases as the commonest causes of death by 2030.

Risk factors leading to common NCDs such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet, insufficient physical activity and the harmful use of alcohol are highly prevalent within our societies, communities and families. For example in a recent survey carried out by the Center for Health, Human Rights and Development (CEHURD) with support from United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Uganda country office, on the prevalence of risk factors for non communicable diseases among university students in and around Kampala, it was revealed that up to 67% of the respondents did not know what NCDs were, 12% of students have used drugs, particularly Marijuana, 15% were current tobacco smokers, 9% smoked Shisha. More than 40% of the respondents were staying with parents who smoke, 10% have friends who smoke, 60% have smoked for less and 57% exposed to pro-cigarette advertisements.

Who is to blame?
The World Health Organization (WHO) says that a major reduction in the burden of NCDs will come from population-wide interventions, such as tobacco control measures and cutting on raw salt intake, improved health care, early detection and timely treatment. Early detection of NCDs necessitates availability of NCD screening services in health facilities. But how many health facilities in our districts have these services?

In areas where NCD services are available, these are often hampered by access to essential medicines.
A recent visit to communities of Nyenga and Najja sub-counties of Buikwe district revealed that a huge percentage of the community members find no point in visiting health facilities if not sick let alone screening for NCDs.
“We are not interested in NCD screening if we have no medicines in health facilities within our physical reach” Laments Mary Scovia Namwanje, a resident of Bujuta B , Nyenga subcouty- Buikwe district.

The cost
With the increasing levels of poverty in Uganda, how many Ugandans can afford to buy the expensive brand NCD medicines? The situation at hand requires government to strengthen existing health facilities by providing among others essential NCD medicines and NCD screening services for at least all health center IVs as well as district, regional and national referral hospitals – prioritization of NCDs by government is the way to go.

The role of individuals in the community
The Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health, 2004, outlines the factors that increase the risks of non communicable diseases as being; elevated consumption of energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods that are high in fat, sugar and salt; reduced levels of physical activity at home, at school, at work and for recreation and transport; and use of tobacco. Most risk factors leading to NCDs cited are preventable without incurring expenses. This requires individual and community interventions. Growing and eating of fruits and vegetables, avoiding tobacco growing and smoking, engaging in physical activities in schools, homes and work places etc.

It is noticed that majority Ugandans carryout agriculture and grow a variety of nutritious foods including fruits and vegetables but all these are sold off without sparing any for home consumption – what can government do to help? The first steps in the reduction of NCDs require individuals to take care of their health by avoiding life styles leading to NCDs – It’s everyone’s responsibility to fight NCDs.

As concerned citizens of Uganda, we should not apportion blame for the increased cases of NCDs to either government or community. Collective efforts of government, Civil Society Organizations, communities, individuals, private sector in promoting interventions geared towards reducing NCD risk factors is the shorter route to the reduction of increased cases of NCDs in Uganda.

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