Good morning, this is Elaine, editor of Geneva Solutions’ Health stream, produced in collaboration with Health Policy Watch.

Today, we’re covering news about a sweeping proposal before the World Trade Organization concerning patent rights in the time of a pandemic. We’re feeling hopeful about an innovative digital health collaborative being launched in Geneva. And while the world battles Covid-19, global progress fighting TB, the world’s most deadliest infectious disease, is at risk.

Elaine Fletcher

15.10.2020

Today’s reason for hope

Photo article

Credit: Keystone/Gaetan Bally

I-DAIR promises responsible solutions from new health technology. A network of scientists, foundations and health actors have launched a global platform to facilitate collaboration on research into digital health and artificial intelligence (AI).

Geneva Solutions (EN)

Global Health News

World Trade Organisation enters Covid pandemic fray. A sweeping new WTO initiative by India and South Africa to “waiver” enforcement of patent rights on any Covid-related health product or technologies is churning up embers of long-smouldering disputes.

Geneva Solutions (EN)

Progress battling TB threatened as world battles Covid-19. While health systems pour resources into the battle against the pandemic, years of progress in the fight against the world’s most deadly infectious disease is now at risk, WHO warns.

Geneva Solutions (EN)

HackaHealth 2020 brought together Geneva’s tech and health experts to help people with disabilities find solutions to the challenges they face in their everyday lives.

Geneva Solutions (EN)

Here's what else is happening

The Great Barrier Reef has lost half its corals in just 20 years due to global warming.
NBC (EN)
Victims of human trafficking in Switzerland will be protected by a new platform launched today by four Swiss NGOs.
Swissinfo.ch (EN)
World bank approves $12bn for Covid-19 vaccines.
France 24 (EN)
Fighting between Taliban and Afghan forces in Helmand province has displaced thousands of civilians.
Al Jazeera (EN)
Climate activist aquitted in Geneva 'red hands' trial.
RTS (FR)
Facebook rolls out a new vaccine misinformation policy but leaves out pages where falsehoods thrive.
Stat News (EN)
The Dutch government has backed euthanasia for under-12s, specifically terminally ill children who are “suffering hopelessly”.
DW (EN)
Pro-democracy protesters in Thailand confronted a motorcade carrying the King as it passed through a rally in Bangkok.
BBC (EN)
Iran at breaking point as it fights third wave of Covid-19.
Guardian. (EN)

Image of the day

Photo article

Credit: Keystone/ AP Photo / Dar Yasin

A health worker looks out of his testing booth in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, on Wednesday, 14 October. India’s tally of Covid-19 cases has just topped 7.24 million - the second highest behind the US, where the figure is nearing 8 million.

Next on the agenda

16 October | Online: Communication considerations for COVID-19 vaccine introduction. WHO’s Mark Muscat will discuss vaccine trials, development and deployment mechanisms and the role of WHO in this process.

WHO (EN)

20 October l Online: Research Handbook on International Drug Policy launch. International academics discuss the dynamics of drug markets at this launch event.

UNIGE (EN)

22 October l Online: Heart Talks: Rethinking the future of the cardiovascular workforce. What will the post-COVID workforce look like and how will it be trained?

World Heart Federation (EN)

22 October l Online: Producing and distributing Covid-19 commodities: what else for global justice? A discussion on the ethics of the Covid-19 response.

IHEID (EN)

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Have a good day!

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