WHO today prequalified the first generic version of sofosbuvir, a critical medicine for the treatment of hepatitis C. The development could expand access to treatment by increasing the number of quality-assured generic medicines on the market. Sofosbuvir, 400 mg tablet, is manufactured by Mylan Laboratories ...

The objectives of these guidelines are to provide recommendations outlining a public health approach to managing people presenting with advanced HIV disease, and to provide guidance on the timing of initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for all people living with HIV. The first set of recommendations ...

On 30 June, 12 United Nations entities released an unprecedented joint statement calling for ending discrimination in health-care settings and committing to work together to support Member States to provide health-care services free from stigma and discrimination. The statement is a powerful call to action for governments ...

Today we begin the launch of “Ten years in public health 2007-2017” – a report that chronicles the evolution of global public health over the decade that I have served as Director-General at WHO. This series of chapters, which will be published over the next 6 ...

All Member States of the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015. Now, countries are engaged in adapting this framework to their national contexts and the specific realities they face at the country level. In ...

6 JUNE 2017 | GENEVA - New advice on which antibiotics to use for common infections and which to preserve for the most serious circumstances is among the additions to the WHO Model list of essential medicines for 2017. Other additions include medicines for HIV, ...

To support countries to integrate human rights principles in their HIV prevention, testing and treatment programmes, UNAIDS and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) jointly launched two mutually supportive technical documents on 29 May. The UNAIDS guidance document Fast-Track and human ...

In May 2016, the World Health Assembly endorsed the Global Health Sector Strategy (GHSS) on viral hepatitis 2016–2021. The GHSS calls for the elimination of viral hepatitis as a public health threat by 2030 (reducing new infections by 90% and mortality by 65%). This WHO Global ...

Launch of the Report of the High-Level Working Group on the Health and Human Rights of Women, Children and Adolescents At a high-level side event, the Report of the High-Level Working Group on the Health and Human Rights of Women, Children and Adolescents was officially handed ...

Some of the world’s largest funders of medical research and international non-governmental organizations today agreed on new standards that will require all clinical trials they fund or support to be registered and the results disclosed publicly. In a joint statement, the Indian Council of Medical Research, ...

This independent report, commissioned by WHO and written by Sir Liam Donaldson, reflects on the trends, achievements and challenges in global health over the past decade during which Dr Margaret Chan has been Director-General of WHO. It discusses the role of WHO in dealing with ...

Almost half of all deaths globally are now recorded with a cause, new data from WHO show, highlighting improvements countries have made on collecting vital statistics and monitoring progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Several countries have made significant strides towards strengthening the data they ...

On 31 March 2017, WHO for the first time prequalified a generic active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) for hepatitis C – sofosbuvir. Sofosbuvir is an essential ingredient for new, highly effective medicines to treat hepatitis C called direct active antivirals (DAAs). The prequalified product’s manufacturer is ...

New tuberculosis (TB) ethics guidance, launched today by the World Health Organization (WHO), aims to help ensure that countries implementing the End TB Strategy adhere to sound ethical standards to protect the rights of all those affected. TB, the world’s top infectious disease killer, claims 5 ...

2 March 2017 – Today marks a significant development in responding to the HIV testing gap with the approval of the first product for HIV self-testing (HIVST) by the UNITAID-funded Expedited Review Panel for Diagnostics (ERPD), hosted by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis ...

Overview Testing and diagnosis of hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) infection is the gateway for access to both prevention and treatment services, and is a crucial component of an effective response to the hepatitis epidemic. Early identification of persons with chronic HBV or HCV infection ...

Supplement to consolidated guidelines on HIV testing services Since the release of the consolidated guidelines in 2015, new evidence has emerged. Consequently, in an effort to further support countries, programme managers, health workers and other stakeholders seeking to achieve national and international HIV goals, this 2016 ...

In advance of World AIDS Day, WHO has released new guidelines on HIV self-testing to improve access to and uptake of HIV diagnosis.