Global Health Policy

An article by Ann Danaiya Usher in the December 5 edition of the Lancet focuses on aspects of the Advance Market Commitment pilot for pneumococcal vaccine that appear to be causing confusion. The article is similar to one published by the author in Development Today, a publication that has issued a series of negative (or at least skeptical) pieces about the AMC over the past few years.

This is a joint post with Christina Droggitis and David Wendt.

The PEPFAR Strategy

PEPFAR marked this year’s World AIDS Day (Dec 1st) with the launch of their new five-year strategy. According to the press release, this document provides a high level policy framework (not a road map or implementation plan), outlining the general direction of PEPFAR in the next five-years. More specifically the strategy provides some insight into how PEPFAR will orient its approach to treatment, care and prevention and partnerships with country governments in the fight against AIDS. Of special note are the 5 key goals and specific targets (see page 6 of the strategy) that sets PEPFAR 2 apart from the previous phase of PEPFAR in the way that policy is being articulated.

WHO and UNAIDS have just put poor country AIDS treatment program managers on the spot. Will they choose to follow the new WHO advice to push patients to begin treatment earlier – when many are still healthy? Or will they turn their backs on the new advice and push instead for expanded access to those in need.

Family planning is making news again. A new 12 million dollar family planning drive was launched by the U.S. government highlighting how the Obama administration’s funding has kick-started a contraception drive in Africa and other developing countries AND the International Family Planning 2009 Conference just closed in Kampala, Uganda, apparently the first such conference in 17 years! This is a sign of changing times.