No to Acta, yes to the right to health

The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the right to health, Anand Grover, praised the European Parliament’s rejection of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) on July 4 as a step in the right direction to ensure continued access to affordable and essential drugs and medication essential for the fulfillment of the right to health

According to Grover, ACTA’s defeat in Europe was a welcome blow to the flawed agreement which had failed to address numerous concerns related to access to medicines. In July 2011, the UN Human Rights Council requested the Special Rapporteur to study existing challenges with regard to access to medicines, ways to overcome them and good practices. He will present the study to the Council in June 2013

10.07.2012

News • Pharmaceutical counterfeiting

New chemical approach to combat illegal medicines

Pharmaceutical counterfeiting remains a critical issue, with high risks for patients and great economical damage. Now, researchers propose using “chemical fingerprints” to identify illegal meds.

News • Commentary on obesity treatments

Medical tourism for weight reduction surgery: Experts urge for regulation

Saving money, at a cost: To undergo bariatric and weight reduction surgery, more and more patients turn to institutions outside their home country – potentially putting their health at risk.

Article • New technologies, old limitations?

Robot-assisted surgery in Europe: high tech between scalpel and legislation

The use of surgical robots offers a wide range of possibilities, but in Europe the technology is often unable to reach its full potential. Dr. med. Christoph Wandhöfer explains why.

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