News

New study by WHO/Europe and ECDC examines variations in antibiotic consumption in European countries between 2014 and 2018 07-07-2021
The WHO Regional Office for Europe and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) have released a report on the consumption of antibiotics in countries across the WHO European Region. The report highlights changes in consumption of antibiotics in many countries, but it also highlights the need for more detailed data to improve strategies to reduce antimicrobial consumption across the European Region.
WHO helps to develop skills and access to assistive technology in Tajikistan 29-06-2021
15 healthcare workers and 30 participants from the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Tajikistan completed 5 days of training to develop skills and competencies in providing assistive technology services at primary health care centres in Tajikistan.
World Blood Donor Day 2021 – Promoting blood donations in Italy 14-06-2021
“When I think about why I donate blood, I ask myself a very simple question: ‘If I was on the other side and was in serious need of a blood transfusion, wouldn’t I hope someone had donated that blood for me?’ I have been donating blood since I was 18 and although it is a simple gesture for me, I know it is one that goes a long way for those who need it.”
New WHO tools use behavioural insights to help curb the spread of antimicrobial resistance 10-06-2021
WHO has released 3 documents that aim to strengthen efforts to tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through a behavioural insights approach: the TAP Quick Guide, the TAP Toolbox and the TAP Process poster. A fourth document – the TAP Manual – will be available by the end of the year.
WHO/Europe helps Central Asian countries transition to an improved International Classification of Diseases 17-03-2021
WHO/Europe is supporting 5 Central Asian countries to make the transition to the new and improved 11th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), an essential health information tool for the classification of medical conditions and disease that allows health professionals across the globe to make and record accurate and swift diagnoses.
Countries strengthen health supply chains with support from UNICEF and WHO 08-02-2021
The WHO Regional Office for Europe and UNICEF Supply Division have extended their support to Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova and Uzbekistan in optimizing the performance of their supply chains to ensure timely delivery of medicines and health products.
World Cancer Day: know the facts – tobacco and alcohol both cause cancer 04-02-2021
On World Cancer Day, marked on 4 February, WHO/Europe is focusing on the need to minimize exposure to both alcohol and tobacco. While many people understand the risks of developing cancer associated with smoking, many remain unaware that alcohol also causes cancer.
Scaling up telemedicine services in Romania post COVID-19 19-01-2021
WHO is working with Romania’s Ministry of Health and health professionals in the country to make telephone consultations more widely available. The aim is to institutionalize telemedicine in Romania and make the service easily accessible to patients during and after the pandemic. WHO supported a proposal by the Ministry’s Paediatric Commission to update national health legislation to include phone triage, thereby helping to strengthen health services in the wake of COVID-19.
Doing our share, a new horizon with technological and pharmaceutical development, and preserving the rights of children 19-11-2020
Ultimately, these pandemic times are affecting all of our lives, but we cannot give up when we have so much to gain. I urge you to hold on to hope and make every effort to reduce your personal risk and the risk to the people and community around you for the health and well-being of all.
The work of the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences (CIOMS) in global pharmacovigilance 22-10-2020
CIOMS is known mostly for its work in clinical research ethics (its 2016 international ethical guidelines prepared in collaboration with WHO are available in all United Nations languages) and the safety of medical products, medicines and vaccines.
Developing new partnerships for health at European Health Forum Gastein 07-10-2020
Taking part in this year’s European Health Forum Gastein (EHFG), held virtually from 30 September to 2 October, representatives from WHO/Europe spoke about the importance of leveraging new partnerships to strengthen health across the WHO European Region. This included the announcement of the Oslo Medicines Initiative, to find ways to ensure greater access to affordable medicines while maintaining commercial viability for medicine producers.
Gulbara Dadyvaeva: Community pharmacist, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan 28-05-2020
My name is Gulbara Dadyvaeva. I studied pharmacology at the Almaty Medical Institute in Kazakhstan and I have been working as a pharmacy manager for 33 years.
Community pharmacists are key players in COVID-19 response and must stay up-to-date on guidance 27-05-2020
Those dispensing medicines to the general public should know what steps to take if they suspect or see signs of COVID-19. This is one of the key recommendations in a series of new technical guidelines created by WHO/Europe, looking at the practical ways in which health systems can respond better to COVID-19.
WHO/Europe and Norway discuss improving affordable access to innovative medicines 16-01-2020
All countries across the WHO European Region face a challenge in ensuring that high-value but expensive medicines are available in a sustainable way to people who could benefit from them.
2019: the WHO European Region’s year in review 19-12-2019
This was an important year for WHO/Europe. From working towards more affordable health care to electing a new Regional Director, much has been achieved over the past 12 months. The Region also celebrated some important anniversaries, including a quarter century of the Regions for Health Network and 30 years of tackling the most significant environmental threats to human health. While plenty of work remains, here we look back at some key moments of the last year. The stories highlight achievements across the Region as well as some specific country initiatives.
Improving access to medicines in the Republic of Moldova 12-12-2019
The Government of the Republic of Moldova is committed to making progress towards universal health coverage (UHC) with the help of a new mobile application, developed by WHO. The app helps countries collect and analyse data on medicine prices and availability, aiding policy-makers. The data is used to help inform strategies which improve the availability and reduce the price of medicines, while also assessing the impact of health reforms.
Keeping the promise of universal health coverage 12-12-2019
On Universal Health Coverage Day – 12 December 2019 – countries are being called upon to keep their promise to make health for all a reality.
Community pharmacists on the frontline of health care 25-09-2019
Gilles Bonnefond has worked as a pharmacist in Montélimar, France for more than 25 years, and is witness to the evolution of the role of community pharmacists from dispensers of medicines to primary health care professionals. On World Pharmacists’ Day, Gilles’s story illustrates the frontline role that community pharmacists are increasingly playing in delivering health care.
Stories of change: countries making progress towards universal health coverage 24-09-2019
World leaders yesterday committed to scale up efforts in the pursuit of health for all by adopting a United Nations political declaration on universal health coverage (UHC). Through this, United Nations Member States have pledged to invest in mechanisms to ensure no one suffers financial hardship because they have had to pay for health care out of their own pockets, and to implement high-impact health interventions to combat diseases and protect women’s and children’s health.
Survey in eastern European and central Asian countries finds further control of antibiotics use needed 29-07-2019
A WHO survey carried out in 18 countries and areas of eastern Europe and central Asia reports that legislative frameworks are already in place to govern the distribution, quality, prescription and dispensing of antibiotics.
Improving access to quality essential medicines in Kyrgyzstan 27-06-2019
In June 2017, Kyrgyzstan introduced 3 new laws focused on medicines and medical devices. National health authorities worked for several years on developing these strategic laws, and WHO actively contributed to the process and promoted their adoption. The new laws on medicines allow the state to regulate the prices of essential medicines, making them more affordable to patients. Improving access to quality essential medicines for the population is a significant measure for strengthening a country’s health system. It is also an integral step forward on the path to universal health coverage, which Kyrgyzstan set out to achieve when it adopted the Sustainable Development Goals.
Provision of wheelchairs in Tajikistan: report reveals insufficient levels of supply 04-06-2019
A new report published by WHO reveals that Tajikistan’s current levels of supply of quality wheelchairs are insufficient and that service facilities, such as maintenance and repair centres, are not provided or are underfunded. The report, the first of its kind, focuses on the economic aspects of the provisioning of wheelchairs. It assesses access to, quality of, and the need for wheelchairs and provides an overall framework for effective policy development, including 3 models for improving the production of wheelchairs. The strength of the wheelchair provision system influences the way a person accesses health services and integrates into society, and has an impact on education and employment opportunities.
Scaling up access to rehabilitation services in Georgia 29-05-2019
With technical support from WHO, the Georgian Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs has initiated work to increase access to rehabilitation services and assistive devices in the country.
Ukraine’s Affordable Medicines Programme shown to have significantly improved access to medicines 12-04-2019
A new WHO report finds that the Affordable Medicines Programme, an outpatient reimbursement scheme introduced in Ukraine in April 2017, has contributed to a significant increase in access to medicines thereby improving the health of patients. Until the implementation of the Programme no system was in place for public reimbursement of prescription medicines in the outpatient sector and spending on medicines was reported as being the main driver of financial hardship for Ukrainian households.
Out-of-pocket payments for health, particularly for medicines, are unaffordable for many in Europe 05-04-2019
Even in Europe’s richest countries, people are pushed into poverty as a result of having to pay out of pocket for health services. This is one of the findings of the WHO report “Can people afford to pay for health care? New evidence on financial protection in Europe”.
Maternal health: call for urgent actions for appropriate storage and management of oxytocin 28-03-2019
WHO/UNICEF/UNFPA have issued a joint statement regarding the management of oxytocin, a medicine essential to the prevention and treatment of postpartum haemorrhage as well as other indications. The management of oxytocin is critical to ensuring that it is effective when it reaches women, including procurement, cold chain management and clear and consistent labelling.
Calls for enhancing the responsible use of medicines to reduce antimicrobial resistance 07-12-2018
Experts called for the responsible use of medicines and the reduction of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) during a consultation held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, from 30 October to 1 November 2018. Focusing on the role of primary health care in this area, the event gathered participants from 15 countries. They included managers involved in primary health-care reforms, officers in charge of pharmaceuticals and promoting the responsible use of medicines, experts on medicine safety, and other professionals who are currently or potentially could be promoting prescription-only dispensing of antibiotics.
Improving laboratory quality management system in Ukraine 02-10-2018
In support of Ukraine’s ongoing health-care reform, specifically the reorganization of its public health surveillance system, WHO led a 4-day workshop for national laboratory mentors in Kyiv on 11–14 September 2018.
Benchmarking Turkey’s medicine agency 25-09-2018
The Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency (TMMDA) has, with WHO support, initiated self-benchmarking of their regulatory efficiency using the WHO Global Benchmarking Tool.
Russian-language guidance on in vitro diagnostics surveillance 14-08-2018
A Russian translation of the 2015 publication “Post-market surveillance of in vitro diagnostics” is now available. The document outlines the objectives and processes of post-market surveillance of the in vitro diagnostics (IVDs) prequalified by WHO. It describes what should be done to ensure WHO-prequalified IVDs continue to meet requirements for safety, quality and performance after they are placed on the market.
Republic of Moldova hosts scoping mission on joint procurement of vaccines in South-eastern Europe 03-08-2018
A scoping mission to explore options for joint procurement of vaccines among South-eastern Europe Health Network (SEEHN) countries took place on 25–28 June 2018 in Chisinau, Republic of Moldova.
How to ensure access to essential medicines for all? New WHO report reviews medicines reimbursement policies in Europe 18-07-2018
The new WHO report “Medicines reimbursement policies in Europe” examines the various policies that increase access to affordable medicines. Based on direct data collection from 45 of the 53 countries in the WHO European Region, it showcases diverse national practices and aims to identify key aspects of policy frameworks that protect vulnerable groups from unaffordable out-of-pocket payments for medicines.
Robust regulatory framework in Kyrgyzstan will improve financial access to medicines 04-07-2018
In August 2017, 3 new strategic laws on regulating medicines and health technologies entered into force in Kyrgyzstan. A year on, the introduction of new legislation and the resulting robust regulatory framework are contributing to making medicines and medical devices more affordable in the country.
WHO e-Pocket book app: helping save children’s lives in Kyrgyzstan and Russian Federation 25-06-2018
A smartphone app based on the popular WHO “Pocket book of hospital care for children” has received an overwhelmingly positive response from child health practitioners in Kyrgyzstan and the Russian Federation, with users reporting the free app as essential in helping them save the lives of thousands of young patients.
Strengthening collaboration for affordable medicines in CIS countries 21-06-2018
The countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) have further strengthened their collaboration towards affordable medicines by agreeing to a development plan for the Pharmaceutical Pricing and Reimbursement Information (PPRI) network for the CIS during the network’s second meeting. This informal plan ensures the network becomes self-sustaining with participating countries taking on direct management.
Getting the best deal for patients – WHO/Europe builds national capacity in procuring medicines 26-04-2018
To help Member States ensure sustainable access to affordable pharmaceuticals and medical devices, WHO/Europe organized 2 important training events in January and February 2018, both in Copenhagen, Denmark.
WHO welcomes new collaborating centre for health professionals education and research 16-04-2018
The Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics at the University of Malta has recently been designated as a new WHO collaborating centre for health professionals education and research.
Summaries of revisions to WHO EML now available in English and Russian 02-03-2018
Following key updates to the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines (EML) and to the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines for Children (EMLc), the Health Technologies and Pharmaceuticals programme at WHO/Europe has developed 3 documents to highlight and summarize the revisions.
New report from TLV highlights importance of managed entry agreements 08-01-2018
A new publication from the Swedish Dental and Pharmaceutical Benefits Agency (TLV), The development of pharmaceutical expenditure in Sweden, demonstrates that managed entry agreements between pharmaceutical companies and county councils dampen the cost increase of new therapeutics and provide better conditions for early and equal access.
2017 report of the health technologies and pharmaceuticals programme now online 22-12-2017
This newly published 2017 annual report describes the support that the health technologies and pharmaceuticals programme of WHO/Europe provided to Member States in 2017. The support focused on data analysis, evidence generation and policy action. The programme also provided technical assistance on updating legislation and regulation, and on improving access to medicines and medical devices.
WHO releases 2 new reports on substandard and falsified medicines 13-12-2017
In November 2017, WHO released 2 important publications on the topic of substandard and falsified medicines: a report on the WHO Global Surveillance and Monitoring System for substandard and falsified medical products; and a study on the public health and socioeconomic impact of substandard and falsified medical products.
Training supports Republic of Moldova and Ukraine in increasing access to lower-priced medicines 06-11-2017
Concerned with spiralling health costs and aiming to improve access to medicines in their countries, the governments of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine sought WHO/Europe’s support in understanding the impact of intellectual property rules on the affordability of medicines. They also requested assistance in investigating the patent status of specific finished products of essential medicines in their countries.
WHO/Europe takes steps for better regulation of medical devices in the Region 04-11-2017
To start applying new WHO global guiding principles for the regulation of medical devices in the WHO European Region, WHO/Europe organized a 3-day workshop in Yerevan, Armenia, on 3–5 October 2017.
Workshop builds capacity of countries in improving access to medicines 30-10-2017
WHO/Europe, through its health technologies and pharmaceuticals programme, organized a technical workshop in collaboration with the London School of Economics and Political Science, United Kingdom, on strategic procurement of medicines with a focus on negotiations.
Member States adopt decision to strengthen collaboration on improving access to medicines 27-09-2017
On 13 September 2017, at the 67th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe held in Budapest, Hungary, countries adopted a decision to strengthen collaboration to improve access to quality, affordable medicines.
Day 3 highlights: “The health workforce is the beating heart of any health system” 13-09-2017
On the third day of the 67th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe, countries agreed to transform the health workforce in the WHO European Region to ensure that it is sustainable and able to respond to current and future health needs.
Regional Committee: making decisions on key health priorities for the European Region 29-08-2017
On 11 September 2017 in Budapest, Hungary, health ministers and high-level representatives of the 53 Member States of the WHO European Region, along with partner organizations and civil society, will gather for the annual WHO Regional Committee for Europe. The committees provide an opportunity to discuss and make decisions related to key health priorities in the Region. In this year’s 67th session, and in alignment with the Health 2020 policy framework and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, participants will consider topics ranging from building a sustainable health workforce to improving the environment and health.
Enhancing access to affordable medicine in small countries 31-07-2017
One of the topics discussed during the Fourth High-level Meeting of Small Countries in Malta at the end of June 2017 was access to affordable medicine in small countries and how this could be enhanced.
World Hepatitis Day: making hepatitis elimination a reality 27-07-2017
The campaign for this year’s World Hepatitis Day, held annually on 28 July, is “Eliminate hepatitis”. It commemorates global, regional and country efforts to combat viral hepatitis and provides a powerful opportunity to increase public awareness of the devastating disease, advocating improved access to and availability of testing, treatment and preventive measures.
Kick-off meeting of network on pharmaceutical pricing and reimbursement policies in the CIS 18-07-2017
WHO/Europe and the WHO Collaborating Centre for Pharmaceutical Pricing and Reimbursement Policies in Vienna, Austria, hosted the first meeting of the Pharmaceutical Pricing and Reimbursement Information (PPRI) network for countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The CIS PPRI will allow representatives of CIS countries to share common challenges in enhancing financial access to medicines.
Greece makes a step towards the use of health technology assessment in decision-making 13-06-2017
World Health Assembly Day 7: global action plan on response to dementia agreed 30-05-2017
On 29 May 2017, delegates agreed on a global action plan to ensure that work to address dementia is prioritized. In 2015, dementia affected 47 million people worldwide. This is set to increase to 75 million in 2030. The action plan requires Member States to develop, strengthen and implement policies for dementia; respect the equity, dignity and human rights of people with the disease; and support the needs of carers.
World Health Assembly Day 5 & 6: delegates discuss International Health Regulations, human resources 29-05-2017
Decisions taken by delegates at the World Health Assembly focused on implementing the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005) and improving the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of sepsis. Delegates emphasized the urgent need to achieve full implementation of the IHR. Public health prizes were also awarded.
Moldovan Ministry of Health officials in Denmark to study pharmaceutical procurement 15-05-2017
New WHO/Europe report sheds light on antibiotic consumption in eastern European and central Asian countries 01-05-2017
A new WHO/Europe report collates and reviews surveillance data on the consumption of antimicrobial medicines in 11 non-European Union countries and Kosovo (in accordance with the United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 (1999)) from 2011–2014, gathered through the WHO Antimicrobial Medicines Consumption (AMC) Network. The report indicates that consumption across the surveyed countries varies widely. It concludes that the variation recorded may not be explained by population health problems alone, and calls for further investigation.
Policy dialogue in Kyrgyzstan addresses imminent regulation of health technologies 22-03-2017
On 28 February 2017, the WHO country office in Kyrgyzstan held a policy dialogue on new laws currently under discussion to regulate the pricing and procurement of medicines and health technologies in the country.
Strengthening countries’ pharmaceutical systems: a year in review 17-03-2017
The WHO Regional Office for Europe supports Member States in providing people with sustainable access to essential and affordable quality medicines and medical products.
The 2016 annual report of Health Technologies and Pharmaceuticals is online 10-03-2017
This report summarizes the 2016 contribution of the HTP programme to improving health in the WHO European Region, by supporting improved access to essential, affordable, quality pharmaceuticals and medical products.
WHO publishes list of bacteria for which new antibiotics are urgently needed 09-03-2017
WHO has published its first ever list of antibiotic-resistant "priority pathogens" – a catalogue of 12 families of bacteria that pose the greatest threat to human health.
New WHO/Europe report offers policy options to reduce out-of-pocket payments for medicines in Kyrgyzstan 15-02-2017
A new WHO/Europe report examines the causes of high out-of-pocket payments for prescription drugs in Kyrgyzstan and presents ways to address the problem through policy reform.
International price comparison of pharmaceuticals 2016. A publication from the Swedish Dental and Pharmaceutical Benefits Agency (TLV) 10-02-2017
In this report, TLV presents the results of the analysis of price and volume data for the first quarters of 2014, 2015 and 2016 in Sweden compared with 19 other European countries.
Latest publications from OECD – managing access, value and sustainability of new health technologies 10-02-2017
In January 2017, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) published a report discussing the need for an integrated and cyclical approach to managing health technology in order to mitigate clinical and financial risks, and to ensure acceptable value for money.
Policy briefs on fostering cross-border collaboration for the Maltese presidency 09-02-2017
Two new policy briefs have been produced to inform discussions under the Maltese EU Presidency in 2017 on how to promote structured cross-border collaboration in health care at European Union level.
Global Health Case Challenge: fighting antibiotic resistance 19-01-2017
WHO/Europe provided the case for this year’s Global Health Case Challenge, an annual event hosted by the University of Copenhagen’s School of Global Health, EIT Health and SUND Innovation Hub. The case asked students to consider the following question: How can availability, uptake and usage of rapid diagnostic tools such as point-of-care tests be improved to facilitate responsible use of antibiotics in primary care?
Comprehensive assessment of pharmaceutical policies and strategies in the Republic of Moldova 05-01-2017
The Government of the Republic of Moldova is taking relevant steps to harmonize its national legislation with the principles and standards of European Union legislation in the pharmaceutical sector. WHO has supported the process technically and provided expertise during 2016 at the request of the Ministry of Health.
New publication - Pharmaceutical pricing and reimbursement reform in Kyrgyzstan 16-12-2016
This report explores the causes of high out-of-pocket (OOP) payments for outpatient medicines in Kyrgyzstan and develops policy recommendations to reduce them.
New WHO report shows strategic purchasing of medicines can improve access in the Region 28-11-2016
A new WHO report provides insight into how countries in the WHO European Region can improve access and reduce medicine prices through strategic and well-planned procurement processes. It also addresses collaboration within and across countries to improve availability of affordable medicines for patients in the Region.
A series of WHO seminars strengthening the legal framework within the pharmaceutical sector commences in the Republic of Moldova 13-10-2016
The first two WHO seminars to implement the European Union (EU) Acquis Communautaire in the pharmaceutical sector into national legislation of the Republic of Moldova took place in Chisinau on 12-23 September 2016.
First-of-its-kind training targets medicine pricing policies 11-09-2016
A summer school on pharmaceutical pricing – the first of its kind – helped train high-level civil servants in the WHO European Region in shaping and implementing policies for pricing medicines. The Austrian Health Institute, designated as the WHO Collaborating Centre for Pharmaceutical Pricing and Reimbursement Policies, organized the five-day course in collaboration with WHO/Europe. It ran from 29 August to 2 September.
Greece and Portugal exchange experience and good practices in health technology assessment (HTA) 20-07-2016
Under the strengthening capacity for universal coverage (SCUC) initiative, WHO/Europe organized a study visit to Portugal for Greek policy-makers on 6–8 July 2016, to provide an overview of the functioning of a well established HTA agency in a European country of comparable size and with similar economic, social and cultural conditions.
Exploring immediate and longer-term approaches for health technology assessment in Greece 03-06-2016
A series of meetings with WHO experts and key actors in health technology assessment (HTA) at country level took place in Greece on 17–19 May 2016, under the "Strengthening capacity for universal coverage" (SCUC) initiative.
Closing of the World Health Assembly: WHO Framework for Engagement with Non-State Actors adopted 01-06-2016
The World Health Assembly has adopted the WHO Framework of Engagement with Non-State Actors (FENSA), after more than 2 years of intergovernmental negotiations.
Access to medicines discussed during visit of Portuguese Minister of Health 20-04-2016
Dr Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe, applauded the intersectoral work that Portugal is already undertaking to address health inequalities and the social determinants of health, including efforts at the local level and through civil society, during the visit of Dr Adalberto Campos Fernandes, Minister of Health of Portugal, to WHO/Europe on 19 April 2016.
Antibiotic awareness drives digital conversation in European countries 16-03-2016
The use of social and other digital media – Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, text messages, video and websites – for health messaging is growing rapidly in the WHO European Region. All 19 of the non-EU countries that participated in the first World Antibiotic Awareness Week (WAAW) in 2015 used digital media to raise awareness about antibiotic resistance. This marks a tremendous change from a couple of years earlier, when only around 10% of these countries used digital media to promote campaigns.
E-health in practice 10-03-2016
From medical monitoring for nomadic reindeer herders, to education and training with multilingual, virtual, simulated patients, technology is increasingly being used to deliver and advance health services in the WHO European Region. A new report provides an overview of the developments and benefits of using e-health and includes 29 case examples from across the Region.
10 countries participate in subregional consultation on antimicrobial consumption 22-02-2016
In the framework of WHO/Europe's Antimicrobial Medicines Consumption Network, a subregional consultation for Russian-speaking countries took place in Chisinau, Republic of Moldova on 17–18 February 2016.
Just published: 2015 Annual report of the Health Technologies and Pharmaceuticals Programme 04-02-2016
The Health Technology and Pharmaceuticals (HTP) Programme of the WHO Regional Office for Europe (WHO/Europe) has the overarching goal of supporting access to essential, quality health technologies including medicines. The current report summarizes the 2015 work of the HTP team of WHO/Europe in supporting its Member States and contributing to health in the WHO European Region, in line with the Tallinn Charter and Health 2020 policy framework.
Joint UNICEF-UNFPA-WHO meeting with pharmaceuticals and diagnostics manufacturers and suppliers 21-01-2016
On 23−26 November 2015 at UN City Copenhagen, Denmark, manufacturers; quality, safety and efficacy experts; procurement agencies; and international donors working in public health discussed issues regarding the production and supply of quality in vitro diagnostics, essential medicines, vaccines and contraceptive devices needed for vulnerable populations.
Third International Pharmaceutical Pricing and Reimbursement Information (PPRI) Conference 04-12-2015
The WHO Collaborating Centre for Pharmaceutical Pricing and Reimbursement Policies, affiliated with the Health Economics Department of the Austrian Public Health Institute, held its Third International PPRI Conference in Vienna, Austria, on 12–13 October 2015.
WHO report on access to new medicines in Europe featuring 27 countries available in Russian 30-11-2015
This report with a focus on sustainable access to new medicines, reviews policies that affect medicines throughout their lifecycle (from research and development to disinvestment), examining the current evidence base across Europe.
New HIV guidelines will help Europe meet the ambitious global goal 27-11-2015
Globally, the spread of HIV has been halted and is now in reverse. However, during the past decade, the number of new diagnoses of HIV infection in the WHO European Region continued to increase, to reach the highest level ever in 2014. New guidelines and recommendations will support Europe in tackling the epidemic.
The WHO experts satisfied with the quality of Ukrainian GMP/GDP Center performance 26-11-2015
On November 28-29, 2012 the Ukrainian State Training Center for Good Manufacturing/Distribution Practice of the State Administration of Ukraine on Medicinal Products (SAUMP) had been audited by WHO Collaborating Center for Drug Policy and Pharmacy Practice, Danish College of Pharmacy Practice Pharmakon in connection to the performance of GMP/GDP trainings.
WHO/Europe partners with Austria and Belgium to address new, high-priced medicines in Europe 15-10-2015
During the European Health Forum held from 30 September to 3 October 2015 in Gastein, Austria, WHO/Europe and the social security institutes of Austria and Belgium held a meeting aimed to stimulate discussion on how to prioritize the introduction of new high-priced medicines.
Piperska Group workshop to help promote the rational prescribing of medicines in Europe 10-06-2015
A 3-day workshop on the managed introduction of new medicines was held on 11–13 May 2015 in Warsaw, Poland.
Health Technologies and Pharmaceuticals (HTP) programme annual report 2014 published 22-04-2015
The current report summarizes the 2014 work of the HTP team of WHO Regional Office for Europe in supporting Member States and contributing to health in the WHO European Region in line with the Tallinn Charter and Health 2020.
Republic of Moldova develops national capacity and tools to enhance rational use of medicines 27-03-2015
On 10-13 February 2015 WHO/Europe and the WHO Country Office in the Republic of Moldova jointly hosted a two-day seminar to finalize guidelines for rational use of medicines and selecting medicines for the positive list. The seminar marked the final session of the first phase of a technical assistance programme aimed at improving access to medicines related to noncommunicable diseases. In addition to facilitating broader prescription drug access, the first phase of the program seeks to further build the capacities of national stakeholders in the rational use of medicines as part of the European Union and WHO joint initiative to support health policy dialogue and universal health coverage.
New WHO report shows that transparency and cooperation help to reduce high prices for new medicines 26-03-2015
As the number of new medicines introduced in Europe rises, governments are finding it increasingly difficult to afford them, according to a comprehensive study released today by the WHO Regional Office for Europe. The study illustrates the challenges for national health systems, with specific examples, and shows that few countries in the WHO European Region have mechanisms in place to evaluate the cost–effectiveness of new drugs; this hampers the value-assessment and decision-making processes.
Antimicrobial Medicines Consumption (AMC) event in Copenhagen 20-03-2015
In the framework of the multicountry AMR event, several antimicrobial medicines use workshops took place in Copenhagen from 24 to 27 February 2015. Delegations from 17 Member States participated. The aim was to provide capacity building in countries regarding the efforts required to control the spread of AMR.
First technical workshop on the Good Distribution Practices (GDP) of medical products in the WHO European region 13-02-2015
On 27-29 January 2015 the Health Technology and Pharmaceuticals (HTP) unit in WHO/Europe organized a Good Distribution Practice (GDP) workshop in collaboration with the Danish health and medicines authority and the WHO Collaborating centre for drug policy and pharmacy practice development.
Region-wide celebration of European Antibiotic Awareness Day 31-12-2014
Antibiotic resistance affects the entire WHO European Region, driven by the overuse, underuse and misuse of antibiotics. Since 2008, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and Member States in the European Region have celebrated European Antibiotic Awareness Day (EAAD) on 18 November to raise awareness of this issue and emphasize every person’s shared responsibility to help prevent it. For the past 3 years, WHO/Europe has joined in marking EAAD, with more countries taking part each year.
Workshop on current requirements to pharmacoeconomic studies, 15–19 December 2014, Moscow, Russian Federation 18-12-2014
First Moscow Medical university of Sechenov with support from WHO/Europe organized a workshop to provide countries with the updates on current requirements to pharmacoeconomics studies. The aim of the workshop is to increase participants understanding in the basics of applied health economics and to faciliate application of health ecomonics into practice at national level.
Ensuring rational use of medicines in Republic of Moldova to improve NCD outcomes 04-12-2014
A training seminar about promoting rational use of medicines was held on 4–5 November 2014 in Chisinau. The lessons learnt will contribute to development of guidance for selection of medicines on the reimbursement list for the Republic of Moldova.
New report published: The role of pharmacist in encouraging prudent use of antibiotic medicines and averting antimicrobial resistance – a review of current policies and experiences in Europe 17-11-2014
The good pharmacy practice (GPP) Joint FIP/WHO guidelines on GPP: standards for quality of pharmacy services states, “The mission of pharmacy practice is to contribute to health improvement and to help patients with health problems to make the best use of their medicines”.
Self-medication and the role of pharmacists: join the Twitter chat on antibiotic resistance 14-11-2014
Experts from WHO/Europe and its partners will answer questions on antibiotic resistance during a live Twitter chat on 18 November 2014, from 13:00 to 14:00 CET (12:00–13:00 UTC/GMT).
Pharmacists have decisive role in combating antibiotic resistance, says new WHO European survey 13-11-2014
Pharmacists are among the best positioned to promote the appropriate use of antibiotics, according to a new survey in the WHO European Region. They therefore have a crucial role in combating antimicrobial resistance, along with policy-makers and health practitioners: every player is key. On European Antibiotic Awareness Day, 18 November 2014, WHO advocates increasing the prudent use of antibiotics through pharmaceutical services in Europe.
Highlights of RC64 day 3 – Adoption of action plans on vaccines and prevention of child maltreatment 17-09-2014
Two far-reaching action plans – on vaccines and prevention of child maltreatment – were adopted, mapping the path for interventions in these areas until 2020.
Country cooperation strategy signed with Portugal 17-09-2014
The Ministry of Health of Portugal and WHO have signed a country cooperation strategy (CCS), setting the vision for creating synergy and alignment between WHO leadership priorities and Portuguese national health policies, strategies and plans for 2015–2020. The CCS is aligned with both Portugal’s national health plan and the WHO European policy framework Health 2020.
Rethinking pharmaceutical policy to facilitate appropriate use of medicines 24-07-2014
47 participants from across and beyond the European Region met for a week in Venice to become updated on developments in medicines policy and to rethink policy action at country level - as well as generate ideas for collaboration across countries on future sustainability of pharmaceutical expenditure.
Training of pharmaceutical inspectors from the Russian Federation 01-07-2014
According to the current European Commission guidelines on Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP EC), SBE “SIM&GP” executed the next step of the pharmaceutical inspectors’ development programme through this training.
New report - Increasing access to HIV treatment in middle-income countries: key data on prices, regulatory status, tariffs and the intellectual property situation 16-06-2014
The paper provides information on the prices paid by 20 middle-income countries for adult and paediatric formulations of antiretroviral treatments recommended by WHO. It links this information with an analysis of the intellectual property situation of the selected medicines taking into account existing license agreements as well as compulsory licenses, and includes data and general information on a number of other determinants of prices and availability of ARVs, including tariffs, mark ups and taxes, as well as the regulatory status.
WHO Surveillance and Rapid Alert System for Substandard/Spurious/Falsely labelled/Falsified/Counterfeit (SSFFC) Medical Products 11-06-2014
Manufacturing, distribution and sale of SSFFC medical products is an international issue threatening the health of citizens in every region and every country. It threatens public confidence in medicines, our health care systems and undermines trust in health care professionals, in addition to wasting precious resources. This subject has been widely and consistently recognized as an unacceptable risk to public health by the WHO, international forums and countries. In light of this issue growing in terms of the complexity, geographic extent and scale of medical products affected, WHO has initiated a project specifically focused on building global capacity for a more systematic approach to the surveillance, monitoring and alerting of SSFFC medical products.
World Health Assembly closes: resolution on antimicrobial resistance approved 27-05-2014
The Sixty-seventh World Health Assembly closed on Saturday 24 May 2014, after adopting more than 20 resolutions on public health issues of global importance.
New report: antibiotic resistance a global health threat 30-04-2014
A new WHO report, “Antimicrobial resistance: global report on surveillance”, launched today, provides the most comprehensive picture of antibiotic resistance across the world to date, with data from 114 countries. The findings document resistance to antibiotics, especially so-called last resort antibiotics, in all regions of the world. It also shows the gaps in surveillance systems and the need for a standardized approach to tracking and monitoring the issue.
Workshop on the surveillance and monitoring of substandard/spurious/falsely labelled/falsified and counterfeit (SSFFC) medical products 23-04-2014
27 – 29 May 2014, Istanbul, Turkey SSFFC Medical products have long been recognized to represent significant threat to public health by Member States, regional groups and various international organizations. Despite strong localized efforts and initiatives to tackle this issue there is still a lack of reliable and verified data of the Global scope, scale and harm caused by SSFFC medical products.
Hepatitis C treatment guidelines issued 09-04-2014
WHO has issued its first guidance for the treatment of hepatitis C, a chronic infection that affects an estimated 130 million to 150 million people and results in 350 000 to 500 000 deaths a year worldwide. An estimated 1 in 50 people is infected with hepatitis C in the WHO European Region.
New resources support laboratory quality management 28-03-2014
To help laboratories implement systems to manage quality control, WHO recently launched a suite of resources in several languages.
Faster diagnosis key to finding drug-resistant tuberculosis in the Republic of Moldova 24-03-2014
This article explains the high burden of Multidrug-Resistant (MDR)-TB in the Republic of Moldova and the new diagnostic tools involved, how those tools help in reaching high-risk populations and who is paying for this project to combat MDR-TB.
Outcomes of pharmacovigilance training workshop 20-03-2014
Following the workshop, countries identified the major gaps and challenges for the implementation of PV for anti-TB drugs and developed action plans to address them, in order to strengthen national surveillance networks and improve data recording and reporting.
New data on antibiotic use in European Region 20-03-2014
WHO/Europe and the University of Antwerp, Belgium have made the first collection and analysis of data on antibiotic use in 13 countries and areas in eastern Europe and central Asia. This research is vital to address the challenge of antibiotic resistance.
Four-fold difference in antibiotic consumption across the European Region – new WHO report 20-03-2014
A new report published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases on 20 March 2014, is the first to release data on total antibiotic consumption for countries outside the European Union (EU). The data (from 2011) indicate an almost fourfold difference between the lowest and the highest antibiotic users among 42 countries and regions in the WHO European Region (within and outside the EU), and provide a clear picture of the use of different groups of antibiotics.
Health technologies and pharmaceutical team has published annual report for 2013 05-03-2014
The current report summarizes the 2013 work of the Health Technologies and Pharmaceuticals (HTP) team of WHO Regional Office for Europe in supporting Member States to address those challenges and contributing to health in the WHO European Region, in line with Health 2020.
Registration is open for the 16th International Conference of Drug Regulatory Authorities (ICDRA) 07-02-2014
In the times of globalization and limited resources, close collaboration of regulatory authorities is very important for public health. Therefore on 26-29 August 2014 the International Conference of Drug Regulatory Authorities will be held for the 16th time, this year in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
European pharmaceutical situation report published 08-01-2014
The Regional pharmaceutical situation report provides an overview and analysis of the Region’s national pharmaceutical sector structures with a specific focus on medicines policies, regulation and financing related to the pharmaceutical area.
HIV/AIDS in the European Region 27-11-2013
HIV infections in Europe continue to increase. Scaling up preventive measures and antiretroviral treatment is key to effectively addressing the epidemic.
European Antibiotic Awareness Day 2013: everyone is responsible 18-11-2013
Mapping both the consumption of antibiotics and the resistance patterns of infectious agents is important to spot and tackle a growing public health problem.
Twitter chat: ask experts questions on antibiotic resistance 08-11-2013
To mark European Antibiotic Awareness Day (EAAD), WHO/Europe and its partners are holding a live Twitter chat on antibiotic resistance. Experts from WHO/Europe, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the European Commission directorates-general for research and for health and consumers will answer your questions. The chat will take place on Monday, 18 November 2013, from 12:00 to 13:30 UTC/GMT (13:00 to 14:30 CET).
Joint WHO-UNICEF-UNFPA meeting with pharmaceutical and diagnostics manufacturers and suppliers 06-11-2013
Hosted jointly by WHO, UNICEF and UNFPA at UN City, this event provided a forum at which medicines and diagnostics manufacturers, quality, safety and efficacy experts, procurement agencies, and international donors working in public health, came together to focus on production and supply of quality essential medicines and priority diagnostics.
Subregional meeting in Slovakia explores policy options for maintaining access to quality medicines 04-11-2013
Member States of the central European region have initiated a series of subregional policy dialogues that address common priorities or areas of concern in a range of health topics. Following a successful meeting on hospital reform in Zagreb, Croatia, in 2012, representatives from Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia met in 2013 to exchange knowledge on the effects and effectiveness of various options in pharmaceutical pricing and reimbursement policies.
Improving palliative care through better access to pain medication in Serbia 29-10-2013
Prominent national and international experts on opioid medication, palliative care and harm reduction gathered on 3 October 2013 in Belgrade to identify barriers to access to controlled substances in Serbia and to discuss measures to resolve them. The experts identified legislation and restricted supply as important barriers to pain management in palliative care.
Indicators of use of medicines in Europe 22-10-2013
IVM (Dutch Institute for Rational Use of Medicine), Utrecht, the Netherlands in the framework of partnership between Netherlands Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport with WHO, developed and piloted a website which contains information about the use of medicines in Europe.
Submission of demonstration projects on health research and development: deadline extended 21-10-2013
The closing date for submission of demonstration projects has been extended to 31 October 2013.
Consultation on health research and development demonstration projects – now live 26-09-2013
WHO/Europe invites submissions on possible demonstration projects on health research and development. In 2010, the World Health Assembly established the Consultative Expert Working Group (CEWG), in response to concerns that insufficient resources were being devoted to target diseases that disproportionately affect people in developing countries.
New database on health care resources 05-09-2013
How many dentists are practising in the WHO European Region? What is the availability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) units across Europe? The new European database on human and technical resources for health (HlthRes-DB) contains data for nearly 200 indicators for non-monetary health care resources, collected jointly by the Statistical Office of the European Union (Eurostat), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and WHO/Europe.
Strengthening health system through better access to anti-tuberculosis medicines 15-08-2013
On 17 – 21 June 2013, WHO/Europe in collaboration with the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Belarus and WHO country office organized a 5 day workshop focusing on forecasting & quantification of anti-tuberculosis medicines as well as monitoring & evaluation as essential part of health system operations for 17 national experts in Belarus.
Missions on access to medicines for treatment of noncommunicable diseases 17-07-2013
Four missions on access to medicines for treatment of noncommunicable diseases (NCD) took place in the framework of complex WHO NCD assessments with focus on health system barriers over the period May – July 2013. The surveyed countries were Hungary, Kyrgyzstan, the Republic of Moldova and Tajikistan.
Pharmaceutical innovation must align with patient needs, says new report 16-07-2013
For the first time, more people in European Union countries are aged over 65 years than under 15 years. Much of the rest of the world, including low-and middle-income countries, is moving in a similar direction. A new WHO report calls for pharmaceutical researchers to adjust their research and development work to take account of this shift.
6th Study tour on Rational use of medicines 06-06-2013
For the 6th time, WHO/Europe organized a study tour on rational use of medicines (RUM), which took place in Holland on 27-31 May 2013.
Experts from Azerbaijan visit Denmark and Austria as a part of the development of medicines pricing system 06-05-2013
On 9-12 April 2013 WHO/Europe organized the study visit for three experts involved in the development of medicines pricing system in Azerbaijan, to WHO collaborating centre for Drug Policy and Pharmacy practice development, Pharmakon in Denmark and WHO Collaborating Centre for Pharmaceutical Pricing and Reimbursement Policies in Austria.
Annual course in ATC/DDD Methodology 03-05-2013
The next annual course in ATC/DDD Methodology will be held in Oslo 13-14 June 2013.
WHO experts satisfied with the quality of Ukrainian Good Manufacturing/Distribution Practice Center performance 22-04-2013
On November 28-29, 2012 the Ukrainian State Training Center for Good Manufacturing/Distribution Practice (GMP/GDP) of the State Administration of Ukraine on Medicinal Products had been audited by WHO Collaborating Center for Drug Policy and Pharmacy Practice, Danish College of Pharmacy Practice Pharmakon in connection to the performance of GMP/GDP trainings.
WHO/Europe in Copenhagen moving to new premises 05-04-2013
WHO/Europe’s head office, based in Copenhagen, Denmark, is moving to new premises during 22 March to 1 April 2013. All United Nations organizations in the Danish capital will come together in new premises known as UN City.
Health technologies and pharmaceutical team published Annual report for 2012 25-03-2013
The current report summarizes the 2012 work of the Health Technologies and Pharmaceuticals (HTP) team of WHO Regional Office for Europe in supporting Member States to address those challenges and contributing to health in the WHO European Region, in line with the Tallinn Charter and Health 2020.
Third workshop on antimicrobial medicines use in non-EU countries: from data-collection to data-analysis 11-03-2013
The third workshop on antimicrobial use in non-EU countries: from data-collection to data-analysis, took place in Antwerp on the 28 February and 1 March 2013.
Study tour on Rational use of medicines 30-11-2012
New publication: Availability and affordability of medicines and assessment of quality systems for prescription of medicines in the Republic of Moldova 06-11-2012
This report presents the results, based on a secondary analysis of evidence collected during a series of assessments of the pharmaceutical sector in the Republic of Moldova during 2011–2012.
15th International Conference of Drug Regulatory Authorities, Estonia 05-11-2012
This year, around 300 experts from mainly regulatory authorities, including more than 90 WHO Member States, were able to exchange their experiences, discuss ways for increased collaboration and determine the priorities for action in national and international regulation of medicines, vaccines, medical devices and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).
Joint UNICEF Supply Division meeting and the WHO Prequalification of Medicines (PQP) 3rd Meeting with Manufacturers 03-10-2012
The Joint UNICEF Supply Division meeting and WHO Prequalification of Medicines (PQP) 3rd Meeting with Manufacturers was held on 24, 25 and 26 September 2012, at UNICEF Supply Division premises in Copenhagen, Denmark. WHO Regional Office for Europe was providing organizational, logistics and administrative support.
Improving access to quality medicines in the Republic of Moldova 27-09-2012
A policy dialogue on medicines was organized in Chisinau on 20–21 September 2012 with WHO support. The event was hosted by the Ministry of Health and brought together about 70 representatives of the Ministry, National Medicines Agency, National Health Insurance Company, Medical and Pharmaceutical University, professional associations, health care providers of different levels, international organizations, nongovernmental organizations and independent local and external experts.
2nd workshop on antimicrobial use in southern and eastern European countries: from data-collection to data-analysis 06-09-2012
On 3-6 September 2012, WHO/Europe together with Antwerp University, Belgium, the Netherlands institute for health services research (NIVEL) and in collaboration with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), held the second workshop on antimicrobial use in Utrecht, Netherlands.
National ATOME Conference: Strategic Action Plan for Improving Access to Opioid Medicines in Turkey 07-06-2012
The national Atome Conference was held in Ankara on 2 May 2012.
Turkmenistan bans sale of anti-tuberculosis drugs without prescription 20-04-2012
As a result of joint efforts by the country and the WHO Regional Office for Europe, the ban took place as of 12 April 2012.
WHO/Europe and EuroPharm Forum to develop joint initiatives 13-03-2012
Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe, and Dick Tromp, President of the EuroPharm Forum, signed a memorandum of understanding on 8 March 2012 establishing closer working relations.
Netherlands collaborating centre working on new approach to primary care 07-03-2012
On 20 February 2012, WHO/Europe agreed key research areas for the next two years with the Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NIVEL), a WHO collaborating centre for primary care.
Poly Implant Prothèse (PIP) silicone breast implants 20-01-2012
People with PIP or M-Implant prostheses should consult their doctors or surgeons if they suspect rupture, experience pain or inflammation, or have any other concerns. They and physicians should follow the recommendations of their national health authorities.
Results of medicine price and availability survey in Kyrgyzstan 24-08-2011
In July 2010, a medicine price and availability survey was conducted in Kyrgyzstan, using the WHO/Health Action International (HAI) methodology. The results are now available online.
34th Annual Meeting of the WHO Programme for International Drug Monitoring in Croatia 16-08-2011
This year, the meeting will be held 31 October - 02 November in Dubrovnik, Croatia.
Pharmacists’ contribution to public health in noncommunicable diseases 01-07-2011
On 29 June 2011, as an official event of the Hungarian EU Presidency, a Joint conference was held for decision makers in Budapest on Pharmacists’ contribution to public health in noncommunicable diseases, in the co-organization of the Hungarian Ministry of National Resources, the Europharm Forum, the WHO Regional Office for Europe and the Hungarian National Committee of Pharmaceutical Care.
Just published: WHO guidelines on good manufacturing practices for blood establishments 01-06-2011
This new publication is the work of the WHO Expert Committee on Specifications for Pharmaceutical Preparations, which meets annually. Their reports (Technical Report Series) include all adopted guidelines in the form of Annexes.
WHO CC Oslo course: How to classify drugs and measure drug consumption 6-7 June 2011 30-05-2011
On 6-7 June 2011, the WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, situated at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health in Oslo, will organize a course that gives an introduction to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification system and the technical unit of measurement, the Defined Daily Dose (DDD). Registration forms should be completed before 20 May 2011.
WHO/Europe in successful World Health Day roundtable discussion 25-05-2011
This roundtable event to celebrate World Health Day 2011 was co-hosted by Members of European Parliament, and attended by WHO Europe, European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the Office of Health Economics (OHE) and representatives from the pharmaceutical industry. The discussion highlighted the consequences of anti-microbial resistance and the need to safeguard medicines for future generations while at the same time raising awareness on the need for innovation.
New publications on strategic objectives 12-05-2011
WHO/Europe provides tailored support to the 53 Member States in the European Region through technical programmes to achieve WHO’s global strategic objectives for 2008–2013. These objectives were endorsed by the World Health Assembly, WHO’s governing body.
Turkey “translated into action” Tallinn Charter on Health Systems 12-05-2011
In recent years, Turkey’s national health service has undergone major reforms, yielding significant improvements in utilization, effectiveness and health outcomes. Ms Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe, has identified Turkey as a successful example of a country implementing the values and principles of the Tallinn Charter.
Pharmacists' contribution to public health in noncommunicable diseases: Budapest conference 29 June 2011 10-05-2011
The Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, together with the Hungarian Committee of Pharmaceutical Care, the EuroPharm Forum, and the WHO Regional Office for Europe will organize a joint conference for decision makers on pharmacists' contribution to public health in noncommunicable diseases, on 29 June 2011, Budapest, Hungary.
Fact sheet on health technologies: Selected Results from the Baseline Country Survey on Medical Devices 2010 – European region 18-04-2011
5th Pharmaceutical Health Information System (PHIS) Network and Advisory Board Meeting, Sofia, 28-29 April 2011 14-04-2011
The 5th Pharmaceutical Health Information System (PHIS) Network Meeting and Advisory Board Meeting will take place in Sofia, 28 – 29 April 2011. The meeting will bring together the authorities for medicines pricing and reimbursement in EU countries.
Studying the availability and affordability of medicines in the Republic of Moldova 14-04-2011
A WHO Europe mission on medicines is visiting the Republic of Moldova from 11 April to 14 April 2011, at the request of the Ministry of Health. The main purpose of the mission is to plan and initiate, in collaboration with national counterparts, a study of availability and affordability of medicines. The study will include a review of the country’s procurement, supply, and quality assessment systems.
WHO Regional Office for Europe provides technical assistance to Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan on the rational use of drugs 07-04-2011
On 23–29 March 2011, Dr. V.S Shoukhov, a WHO Consultant provided technical assistance on the introduction and support for the rational use of drugs in Turkmenistan. During the mission, course work with specialists of the State Centre on Drug Registration was completed as part of the next step of the National Drug Formulary development.
Complacency kills. Antibiotic resistance still on the rise in Europe 07-04-2011
Every year in the European Union alone it is estimated that over 25 000 people die of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections, mostly acquired in hospitals. In the wider WHO European Region, which encompasses 53 countries, the full number is not known as data are not available, but the signs suggest that the situation is even worse. Doctors and scientists across the Region fear that with the reckless use of antibiotics, resulting in the emergence and spread of antibiotic-resistant infections, we could return to a pre-antibiotic era where simple infections do not respond to treatment, and routine operations and interventions may become life-threatening.
Conference for pharmaceutical pricing and reimbursement information: call for abstracts 11-03-2011
The WHO Collaborating Centre for Pharmaceutical Pricing and Reimbursement Policies at the Austrian Health Institute (Gesundheit Österreich GmbH/ÖBIG) is organizing a conference in Vienna, Austria 29-30 September 2011. A call for abstracts has been issued, with a deadline of 29 April 2011.
Reporting systems enhance quality of health care services 03-02-2011
Any system for reporting adverse events should definitely not serve to punish health care providers, health professionals participating in a recent conference in Bratislava, Slovakia said. On the contrary, such a system should serve as a learning opportunity for them as well as for decision-makers to take proper measures to improve the environment in health care facilities, including the working conditions of the staff.
Call for papers now open for the Third International Conference on Improving Use of Medicines (ICIUM), 10-14 April 2011, Alexandria, Egypt 11-11-2010
Experts, policy makers and other members of the international community will gather in April 2011 to present knowledge on ways to improve medicines use and health, especially for vulnerable populations. They will also shape recommendations and a future research agenda on these topics.
Medicines promotion workshop for NIS and South Eastern European countries, Chisinau, Republic of Moldova 07-10-2010
Together with the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Moldova , WHO Europe is organizing a workshop on 12-13 October in Chisinau, for inspectors and regulators for NIS and South Eastern European countries to discuss national approaches to regulating medicines promotion in their countries.
International conference on "Selling Sickness", Amsterdam, Netherlands 07-10-2010
In follow-up to the policy meeting organized earlier, the Dutch Institute for the Rational Use of Medicines, with the support of the Ministry of Health Welfare and Sports of the Netherlands and WHO Europe, is organizing an international conference on "Selling Sickness" in Amsterdam, 07-08 October 2010.
Ministry of Health Welfare and Sports policy meeting, Amsterdam, Netherlands 07-10-2010
The Ministry of Health Welfare and Sports of the Netherlands is organising, in collaboration with WHO Europe, a meeting for policy makers and inspectors from European countries. The meeting will take place in Amsterdam on 06 October to discuss public policies on information for patients and the general public on health and medicines.
Results of survey of the quality of anti-tuberculosis medicines 15-07-2010
A WHO workshop "Survey of the quality of anti-tuberculosis medicines circulating in selected countries of Eastern Europe and NIS" was held in Copenhagen from 17-18 June 2010. The results of this survey were presented at the meeting.
WHO posts the list of selected innovative technologies that address global health concerns 05-07-2010
Fifteen medical devices were selected in the framework of the call and can be found at the WHO web site. The selected innovative technologies were found to meet the selection criteria defined in the call by the team of external experts appointed by WHO. The following considerations were be taken into account in the selection of the applications: Level of safety for the user, patient and the environment; How effectively the technology addresses the health concern in question; How well the technology is adapted to local infrastructures in resource-limited settings; Ease of use and maintenance; Total cost of ownership, cost-effectiveness and affordability; and Cultural and social acceptability of the technology. Governments, donors and other stakeholders will be informed about which technologies have been selected with a view to fostering the development, availability of and access to innovative technologies, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Learning from Nordic health systems 21-06-2010
Ministers of health and social affairs from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden met in Aalborg, Denmark today to exchange experience and discuss how to cooperate more closely to tackle noncommunicable diseases and provide highly specialized health care.
WHO team reports on the importance and quality of one of Europe’s leading patient information web sites (the German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care) 19-05-2010
In 2008 Germany’s Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG) - an independent scientific body established under the 2004 national health reform legislation - invited the WHO to evaluate the methods it uses for developing patient information, as well as the information’s quality and accuracy. The final report contains a series of recommendations on how IQWiG could develop this programme and strengthen its role as a leading producer of patient-centred and evidence-based health information.
Second technical advisory global meeting on innovative technologies, Copenhagen, Denmark, 27–29 April 2010 08-05-2010
This meeting was organized within the framework of the global initiative on health technologies, and medical devices in particular, and hosted by WHO/Europe.
First Croatian Congress on Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research, 22-24 April 2010 04-05-2010
The first Croatian Congress on Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research
14th International Conference of Drug Regulatory Authorities (ICDRA), 30 November - 3 December 2010, Singapore 04-05-2010
ICDRA provides drug regulatory authorities of WHO Member States with a forum to meet and discuss ways to strengthen collaboration, to harmonize regulation and improve the safety, efficacy and quality of medicines globally. The 14th conference will take place from 30 November - 3 December 2010 in Singapore and will provide opportunities for drug regulators and interested stakeholders to share and discuss current and topical issues of global concern, for example, the H1N1 influenza situation, counterfeit medicines and access to quality drugs.