Insights

On the 8th October 2021, the Beneluxa initiative announced successful conclusion of a joint assessment and price negotiationon Novartis' Zolgensma between Belgium, Ireland and Netherlands. Zolgensma is a gene therapy for Spinal Muscular Atrophy, often referred to as the world's most expensive drug , with a list price of around US$ 2 million. The case of Zolgensma is the first tripartite conclusion of a Health Technology Assessment (HTA) process for a new technology, while pr

In 2016, the World Health Assembly adopted a global action plan for viral hepatitis elimination by 2030. On World Hepatitis Day 2021, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, we look at the progress and opportunities to meet the target by 2030. With one person dying every 30 seconds from viral hepatitis related illnesses, ‘Hepatitis Can’t Wait’. The COVID-19 pandemic has displayed with great gravity that unhinged transmission of infectious diseases have the capacity to drastically reduc

Every year, tobacco kills 8 million people, predominantly caused by non-communicable diseases such a s cardiovascular diseases, lung disorders, cancers, and hypertension. As a result, the economic burden of tobacco use amount to more than $1 trillion USD in healthcare expenditures and lost productivity annually. This year-long campaign for World No Tobacco Day — “Commit to Quit” — aims to support 100 million tobacco users with the tools they need to quit smoking. With the ri

Antimicrobials have revolutionised modern medicine. Since the early 1940s, antimicrobials, including antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals and antiparasitic drugs have significantly reduced morbidity and mortality associated with communicable diseases and have contributed to a range of technological advances, including cancer therapy, transplantation, and surgery. However, misuse of antimicrobials in human medicine, animal health and agriculture are rapidly contributing to the

Malaria is an infectious disease caused by Plasmodium parasites, transmitted in tropical climates by Anopheles mosquitoes. Although malaria is now endemic mostly in low-middle income countries, in the not so distant past, malaria was a public health threat also in the southern states of the United States. Extensive vector and ecological control around the World War II period, along with steady economic development, eventually allowed elimination of malaria in this part of the

Significant progress has been made to reduce the global burden of tuberculosis (TB) since the discovery of the tubercle bacillus, by Dr Robert Kock on 24 March 1882, the date we have come to know as World TB Day. Increased political will has contributed to the development of new diagnostic tools and treatments which have reduced the morbidity and mortality associated with the disease, providing hope that global targets to end TB by 2030 can be achieved. Although progress towa

Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) are inextricably connected to good health. Communities with insufficient access to clean water and sanitation are often vulnerable to a host of preventable diseases, including neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), which impose a significant economic burden on communities and represent a challenge for many already strained health systems. Significant progress has been made towards the elimination of NTDs in recent years. Since 2012, 42 countr

Eye health is an essential component of human health and wellbeing. Good vision enables people to lead productive lives and plays a significant role at every stage of human life from learning to walk and read to participating in the work force. However, eye conditions are remarkably common worldwide. In fact, 2.2 billion people around the world are estimated to have some form of vision impairment , of which one million cases are preventable or yet to be treated. The economic