GlaxoSmithKlines vaccine against rotavirus, a disease which kills one child a minute in the developing world, has been endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO).
This is the first such vaccine to win “pre-qualification status,” which certifies its quality, safety and efficacy and allows agencies such as UNICEF to use it for mass vaccination programs. Glaxos vaccines head, Jean Stephenne, said the vaccine Rotarix would be offered at tiered (trinvist stigende) prices, with the lowest prices reserved for the public sector in the worlds poorest countries.
Meanwhile, developing nations should try to negotiate with drug companies before overriding patents to make copycat medicines, the head of the World Health Organization said. Margaret Chan said the Thai government was fully within its rights under world trade rules to issue compulsory licenses allowing it to buy or make generic versions of two HIV/AIDS drugs and a heart disease medicine.
Healtg officials furthermore said Wednesday, that one billion people in tropical countries are still suffering from debilitating (forkrøblende) and disfiguring diseases associated with poverty, but many remain untreated due to official neglect.
Despite the existence of inexpensive and safe treatment, those who suffer from diseases such as leprosy (spadalskhed), elephantiasis and yaws (guinea-kopper) remain untreated due to a lack of resources and political will, said Jai Narain, South East Asia director of communicable diseases at the World Health Organization.
Kilde: www.worldbank.org
