The European Competition Commission estimates that pharmaceutical companies delaying the production of generic drugs have cost EU governments, health systems, and patients €3 billion between 2000 and 2007.

The preliminary results of an investigation by the Commission for Competition into the production of generic drugs in the EU, started in January, were released today. Recent “raids” on company premises by officials have been reported as linked to this enquiry. (more…)

Health workers in Zimbabwe gathered at Parirenyatwa hospital in Harare on Tuesday to protest against the collapse of the health system. The control is in the midst of a cholera outbreak, as well as being chronically short of food, fuel and medical supplies. Hospitals in the country are barely functioning, if at all, and the Medical School of the University of Zimbabwe was closed indefinitely on Monday. The protest was violently broken up by riot police, who assaulted several health workers. The Human Rights Forum of Zimbabwe released a statement yesterday (19th Nov) condemning the actions of the police and urging the government to contain the cholera epidemic and ensure hospitals are adequately stocked.

Today, Oxfam launches ‘Ending the R&D Crisis in Global Health: promoting pro-poor medical intervention’, calling for a new Global Fund for research and development. This report is particularly pertinent as it is ahead of the Global Ministerial Forum on Research for Health in Bamako, Mali, which begins on the 16^th November.The Oxfam report highlights a number of incredibly issues surrounding research and development many of which were discussed in a recent issue of The Lancet. The purpose of this News Item is to bring you the key issues surrounding R&D in global health and show you the potential solutions which have been suggested to tackle the problem. (more…)