This segment of the newsletter focuses on sharing the recent regulatory reforms and updates on Healthcare and Pharmaceutical domain from World Health Organization (WHO). This segment collates information periodically via conducting research and review of pharmaceutical updates from the WHO. Below are the highlights for the month of January 2020:
1. WHO revision of pain management guidelines1
On January 13, 2020, WHO has given a brief information on revision of its pain management guidelines. The WHO Secretariat is currently developing proposals for the guidelines for further submission to the WHO Guideline Review Committee (GRC). The GRC will consider the proposals, which include the scope of each guideline as well as the questions that will inform the recommendations that will be contained within the guidelines. The revision of the policy was done in order to reduce the complexities in managing chronic pain which results due to complex interaction between various biological, psychological and social factors.
2. WHO launches new report on Global Tobacco use trends2
WHO's new report reveals that the number of males using tobacco has declined in the past years stating that government policies are effectively working to protect public from the damages caused by tobacco. The report titled Global Tobacco Report stated that government actions are protecting communities from tobacco and saving lives of people suffering from tobacco-related harm. Another key finding of the report states that approximately 43 million children (aged 13-15) used tobacco in 2018 and about 244 million women were using tobacco.
3. WHO organized the 23rd meeting of the Emergency Committee regarding the international spread of Poliovirus3
The twenty-third meeting of the Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) regarding the international spread of poliovirus was convened by the Director General on December 11, 2019, at WHO headquarters with members, advisers and invited Member States attending via teleconference, supported by the WHO secretariat.
4. Lack of new antibiotic development an alarming reason to combat drug-resistant infections4
Lack in the development of new antibiotics is undermining efforts to combat drug-resistant infections, says the World Health Organization (WHO). The reports - Antibacterial agents in clinical development – An analysis of the antibacterial clinical development pipeline and its companion publication and Antibacterial agents in preclinical development - also found that research and development for antibiotics is primarily driven by small- or mediumsized enterprises with large pharmaceutical companies continuing to exit the field.
Footnotes
1. https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/13-01-2020-update-who-revision-of-pain-management-guidelines
2. https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/19-12-2019-who-launches-new-report-on-global-tobacco-use-trends
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