Tuberculosis has surpassed HIV/AIDS as the top infectious killer in the world. In 2016, tuberculosis killed 1.7 million people. China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Pakistan and India, which makes up roughly a quarter of all global cases, comprise the hardest-hit countries. Without treatment, tuberculosis can be fatal. Another reason tuberculosis remains a major killer is the increase in drug-resistant strains of the bacterium
UN member states agreed to plans to eradicate tuberculosis as the infectious disease makes a global comeback. The main goal of the agreement is to consolidate support to end the tuberculosis epidemic by 2030. Doctors without Borders (MSF) policy adviser Sharonann Lynch said it still required world leaders to take action and implement the plan.
But first, they had to overcome a stumbling point. The deal only came about after countries defeated attempts by US-proposed changes to protect pharmaceutical companies. The US to delete parts of the draft agreement that emphasized the "importance of delinking the cost of investment in research and development from the price and volume of sales" to promote "affordable access" to life-saving drugs. The changes pushed for by the United States could have access to affordable life-saving medication by keeping the drugs' prices beyond the budgets of poorer countries.
"Heads of state have to now show up at the UN high-level meeting on TB and exercise their rights to protect public health over drug company profits and scale up effective and affordable, generic versions of expensive patented drug-resistant TB medicines," Lynch said.
https://www.dw.com/en/un-wins-support-to-end-tb-after-us-dispute/a-45496537
UN member states agreed to plans to eradicate tuberculosis as the infectious disease makes a global comeback. The main goal of the agreement is to consolidate support to end the tuberculosis epidemic by 2030. Doctors without Borders (MSF) policy adviser Sharonann Lynch said it still required world leaders to take action and implement the plan.
But first, they had to overcome a stumbling point. The deal only came about after countries defeated attempts by US-proposed changes to protect pharmaceutical companies. The US to delete parts of the draft agreement that emphasized the "importance of delinking the cost of investment in research and development from the price and volume of sales" to promote "affordable access" to life-saving drugs. The changes pushed for by the United States could have access to affordable life-saving medication by keeping the drugs' prices beyond the budgets of poorer countries.
"Heads of state have to now show up at the UN high-level meeting on TB and exercise their rights to protect public health over drug company profits and scale up effective and affordable, generic versions of expensive patented drug-resistant TB medicines," Lynch said.
https://www.dw.com/en/un-wins-support-to-end-tb-after-us-dispute/a-45496537
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