The cost of life: historical vote on transparency
After several days of negotiations, accompanied by an intense mobilization of activists and health associations, the resolution on the transparency for medicines, vaccines, and other health products was adopted at the World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva.
Today, when new treatments are launched in the market they are at prices in the tens and hundreds of thousands of pounds per year, and per person. This is especially true for treatments against cancer: just this week, a treatment was marketed in the United States at a price exceeding $2 million per person.
These prices threaten the right to access to care, and the bases ...
Source: Doctors of the World News - May 31, 2019 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Martina Villa Tags: Uncategorised Source Type: news
Impunity Remains: Attacks on Health Care in 23 Countries in Conflict
Washington – There were at least 973 attacks on health workers, health facilities, health transports and patients in 23 countries in conflict in 2018, the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition reported today. At least 167 health workers died and at least 710 were injured. This marks an increase in the number of documented attacks compared to 2017, when the Coalition reported 701 such instances.
The Coalition’s sixth annual report documents attacks on vaccination workers, paramedics, nurses, doctors, midwives, community volunteers, drivers and guards, in violation of international norms and interrupting global e...
Source: Doctors of the World News - May 23, 2019 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Martina Villa Tags: Uncategorised Source Type: news
MHAW: Orange blossom and green fields
Nada was fond of orange blossom, and green fields.
She dreamed about learning the piano, she loved the way the music notes could speak to a person’s soul. She believed in another version of reality, a reality far away from the reality she had to suddenly face.
Nada is 25 years old, a mother of two girls, and a Syrian refugee. She comes from a village called Ghouta. As she described, Ghouta is “a village that you recall even if you are far away… recall the smell of the earth and the beauty of its blue sky.”
In 2014, she had to move to Damascus because her green land had transformed into military dark green....
Source: Doctors of the World News - May 17, 2019 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Martina Villa Tags: Uncategorised Source Type: news
MHAW: 2 years and a lifetime ago
Jad is a tailor who has a passion for sewing . He is also known in his neighborhood in Aleppo for his beautifully tailored wedding dresses.
Jad never imagined that he would have to leave Syria, his dear homeland. But after his house was bombed, he had to escape to save his family. Jad had to leave behind the life he built there and flee to Lebanon. He wished he could tailor his life events, regardless of the atrocity around him.
He first settled in the south of Lebanon, as he felt there would be better opportunities there. As the days went by, Jad realized that it wouldn’t be as easy as he had imagined. The dream of ...
Source: Doctors of the World News - May 15, 2019 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Martina Villa Tags: Uncategorised Source Type: news
Mental Health Awareness Week: Wellbeing in Crisis
15% of Syrians are in need of mental health services because of the trauma they have suffered in their home country or while seeking refuge. After more than eight years since the start of the conflict, healthcare needs are urgent and vast.
13th to 19thMay marks Mental Health Awareness Week. During this period, we want to raise awareness on the impact of conflict, displacement, and life in limbo, on the mental health of Syrian people.
We will be sharing stories and data from our clinics, working to support access to mental health in the Middle East.
Today, we share our publication, “An Invisible Crisis: Exploring Mental...
Source: Doctors of the World News - May 13, 2019 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Martina Villa Tags: Uncategorised Source Type: news
The nurses helping excluded people access healthcare
Around the world, nurses are transforming health care and health systems so that no one is left behind. In our east London Clinic, many of them volunteer their time supporting refugees, migrants, and people in vulnerable circumstances.
International Nurses Day, marking the anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, is a perfect time to reflect on the fundamental role of nurses.
With the 2019 theme of “Nurses: A voice to lead healthcare for all”, we celebrate their hard work and achievements in providing for access to healthcare for those who need it the most.
To celebrate, we’d like you to meet just a few of t...
Source: Doctors of the World News - May 12, 2019 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Martina Villa Tags: Uncategorised Source Type: news
Healthcare for domestic workers
Everyone in the UK is entitled to register with and see a GP. However, many migrants are unable to access the healthcare they are entitled to as they are wrongly turned away from GP practices.
Doctors of the World UK’s volunteers help people access their right to care. On International Workers Day, we want to share the stories of the domestic workers we meet at our clinic. Some of them are undocumented as they were trafficked to the country, others have fled from abusive employers, once in the UK.
Joanna was one of these women. She is a member of The Voice of Domestic Workers, an education and support group for mi...
Source: Doctors of the World News - May 1, 2019 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Martina Villa Tags: Uncategorised Source Type: news
Right to health for all workers
Everyone in the UK is entitled to register with and see a GP. However, many migrants are unable to access the healthcare they are entitled to as they are wrongly turned away from GP practices.
Doctors of the World UK’s volunteers help people access their right to care. On International Workers Day [link], we want to share the stories of the domestic workers we meet at our clinic. Some of them are undocumented as they were trafficked to the country, others have fled from abusive employers, once in the UK.
Joanna was one of these women. She is a member of The Voice of Domestic Workers, an education and support group...
Source: Doctors of the World News - May 1, 2019 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Martina Villa Tags: Uncategorised Source Type: news
Mozambique: healthcare after Cyclone Idai
Update 26th April – Doctors of the World teams are currently monitoring the impact of Cyclone Kenneth and will provide support if needed.
John Segredo Accommodation Centre is a makeshift camp set up for those displaced by Cyclone Idai.
100 km from the port city of Beira, the camp is currently housing thousands of people. There are serious concerns about the source of drinking water,which is located many miles away and was significantly damaged by the passing storm, and food is currently rationed.
“We help repair and equip local health centers so that they can resume operations. At the same time, we are ...
Source: Doctors of the World News - April 26, 2019 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Martina Villa Tags: Uncategorised Source Type: news
Fast Forward: Mozambique in 10 years
Ellen Waters is the Director of Development at Doctors of the World UK. She is passionate about access to healthcare around the world and spent four years in India working for human rights organisations.
On Thursday 14th March, Cyclone Idai swept Mozambique, leaving behind it a trail of destruction and death. Organisations from all around the world mobilised in just a few hours to get help to the population hit.
Rapid intervention is key to save lives, but there is an often hidden need to provide healthcare for a long time after the disaster, while reconstruction takes place. On World Health Day, I want to bring t...
Source: Doctors of the World News - April 7, 2019 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Martina Villa Tags: Uncategorised Source Type: news
Doctors and MPs demand evidence on migrant healthcare policies
This week, MPs, Royal Medical Colleges, leading academics, healthcare professionals and unions wrote to the Secretary of State for Health & Social Care, Rt Hon Matt Hancock MP, calling for the publication migrant healthcare policy reviews.
Signed by The Academy of Royal Medical Colleges and politicians including Lord Hunt of Kings Health, David Lammy MP, Caroline Lucas MP and Kate Green MP, the letter claimed the reviews received “evidence of deterrence and serious harm” caused by these policies “which we consider to be of the utmost seriousness”.
Over the last two years the Department of Health and Social Care...
Source: Doctors of the World News - March 31, 2019 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Martina Villa Tags: Uncategorised Source Type: news
Tropical Cyclone Idai devastates Mozambique
On the evening of March 14th, Cyclone Idai swept through Mozambique, devastating the coastal province of Sofala with winds of up to 190km/h. Heavy rainfall across the country in the weeks prior to the cyclone – as well as in the days following it- led to catastrophic flooding across the nation. Thousands were left homeless and crops, livestock and infrastructure have been destroyed.
The low-lying port city of Beira, before and after the cyclone hit © MdM
Responding to the crisis
Doctors of the World has been in Mozambique for over 19 years in the province of Maputo and in Cabo Delgado.
When Cyclone Idai hit Southern...
Source: Doctors of the World News - March 28, 2019 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Samantha Armstrong Tags: Uncategorised Source Type: news
Statement On The Report Of The Commission Of Inquiry On The 2018 Gaza Protests
This report was shared with the Commission of Inquiry.
In this report, Doctors of the World observes that Palestinian health NGOs face unprecedented levels of violence against its personnel, structures and ambulances. These attacks and the death of their colleagues have also left strong psychological scars.
Beyond the atrocious violations of international law, the impact of these violations is difficult to quantify or measure through the untold stories of those who died or suffer serious life-long consequences because those who were supposed to help were killed or incapacitated.
Doctors of the World takes thus this opportu...
Source: Doctors of the World News - March 25, 2019 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Martina Villa Tags: Uncategorised Source Type: news
INGO statement on the attacks in Hajjah andrenewed fighting in Hodeidah
International non-government organisations (INGOs) in Yemen strongly condemn the horrific attacks in Hajjah governorate on Sunday which according to the UN killed 22 people – twelve women and ten children – and injured many more. Hajjah has seen an increase in tensions and fighting in recent weeks; thousands of people have been displaced from their homes and are in need of humanitarian aid and many more are reportedly trapped by the fighting and cannot flee to safety or reach help. These horrific incidents show that innocent civilians including children continue to pay the price for a conflict in which they have no say...
Source: Doctors of the World News - March 14, 2019 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Martina Villa Tags: Uncategorised Source Type: news
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The problem
In refugee camps, natural disaster zones, and conflict situations, healthcare needs are urgent and addressing them is critical. Children, women and men need help treating wounds, both physical and emotional, but local structures are often destroyed or overwhelmed.
Doctors – like the volunteers who work with Doctors of the World – are among the first responders during emergencies, and often the last to leave. However, the...
Source: Doctors of the World News - March 11, 2019 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Samantha Armstrong Tags: Uncategorised Source Type: news
