“The most critical moment in global health security since 1948”

Skepticism hampers global pandemic agreement

As the world grapples with the emergence of the highly contagious Omicron variant at the end of 2021, representatives from nearly every country will 200 countries The meeting was held in Geneva with the common goal of preventing future pandemics by signing the first global pandemic agreement.

With a May deadline looming, experts say the risks of not reaching a deal are enormous.. They warn that the unknown pathogen could have even more devastating consequences than the coronavirus claimed around the world. 7 million It has cost lives and caused trillions of dollars in economic damage.

Securing a legally binding agreement by next month remains uncertain despite intensifying negotiations and the recent submission of a new draft document. The main hurdles revolve around accessing critical information about new threats that may emerge, and vaccines and treatments that may contain them.

“This is the most critical moment for global health security since 1948.” who said to be established Lawrence O. GostinWHO Director-General Public Health Law Collaboration Center and human rights in georgetown university.

Much of the impasse centers on access to pathogens and profit sharing. High-income countries want guarantees that samples and genetic data on emerging pathogens are shared quickly to enable the development of tests, vaccines and treatments. Developing countries, on the other hand, want guarantees of benefits such as equal access to vaccines and collaboration with local scientists.

The United States is expressed support for We are calling for a binding agreement that includes leveraging purchasing power to strengthen global access to medicines. But like many European Union countries, the country faces skepticism because it is the center of a powerful pharmaceutical industry.

The business has also been disrupted by misinformation on social media. This includes hostility towards the WHO and claims that any international agreement threatens national sovereignty, the WHO director-general argues. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus “This is completely, completely, categorically false,” he said.

In early April, Tedros clarified that the final agreement would not give the WHO the power to impose lockdowns or mandate mask-wearing in countries.

In mid-April, the policy nonprofit organization medical policy watch newly published minimum agreement proposal It is being sent to member states. While maintaining support for impartiality, key details are to be worked out over the next two years, by which time the leadership of many countries, including the United States, may have changed. Meetings are scheduled to resume on April 29th.

You can read Frances' full report here here.

Tap of the day: vice president harris He will travel to La Crosse, Wisconsin, to campaign and highlight the stakes of the November election on abortion rights.

According to the Biden-Harris reelection campaign, this is Harris' third visit to Wisconsin this year, and two women who recently visited the battleground state for three days were unable to receive necessary medical care due to the state's abortion regulations. claims that there was not.

From the reporter's notes

HHS plans to finalize new federal health privacy protections

Our colleague Dan Diamond sent us the following message:

Coming this week: New HIPAA rules for reproductive health care. The Biden administration plans to finalize a proposal to protect patient and provider medical records from Republican prosecutors, according to a report. Ministry of Health and Human Services Email Officials sent this to reporters last week. Current rules include a carve-out in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act that allows organizations to disclose personal medical information to law enforcement in certain cases, such as criminal investigations.

Patients and health care workers say abortion should be an issue, especially as some Republican attorneys general have threatened to crack down on women who cross state lines to legally terminate pregnancies. have said they are concerned that reproductive health procedures will be targeted. public record. (HIPAA has caused a lot of confusion in the nearly 30 years since it was enacted, with some healthcare professionals and patients regularly being misled about what the law covers and even how it is spelled.)

On the other hand, if you zoom out… Several other long-awaited final rules recently passed the White House. Office of Management and BudgetThis means it can be deleted at any time.This includes the Biden administration. Minimum staffing requirements For nursing homes and guidelines for them Restore protection For LGBTQ Americans and other groups seeking health care services that were discontinued under the former president. donald trump.

SCOTUS confronts public health challenge: homeless encampments

Tap of the day: supreme court Consider Whether unhoused people will be fined or face criminal charges if they camp or sleep in public places when shelter beds are not available.

Competing public health concerns are at the heart of this case. Democratic leaders in West Coast cities said a lower court ruling declared the practice unconstitutional. made it even harder To address the safety and public health risks associated with camping, including a wide range of chronic illnesses, substance abuse, and mental illness.

But a growing body of evidence suggests that cleaning is possible. worsen health people in camp while causing disruption to their lives and the people trying to care for them. May cost taxpayer-funded Medicaid programs It costs more money, angela hart KFF Health News Previously detailed in The Health 202.

The case is City of Grants Pass. Oregon vs. Gloria Johnson. other.

Newsom proposes bill to help Arizonans get abortions in California

governor of california gavin newsome (D) will introduce legislation The plan comes on the heels of a move aimed at making it easier for Arizonans to access abortions within the state. Arizona Supreme Court Decision A near-total abortion ban dating back to 1864 could go into effect within the next few weeks, the Post reported. Mariana Alfaro I will report.

Newsom announced the proposal yesterday during an appearance on his show. MSNBC's “Inside with Jen Psaki” said it's time for abortion access advocates to respond aggressively to the Republican-led abortion ban. The emergency law would speed up licensing for Arizona abortion providers to treat patients in California. Newsom added that it will be introduced in the state Legislature this week through the Congressional Women's Caucus.

The Governor of California also made the announcement. new ad targeting In Alabama, a bill has been proposed that would make it illegal to help minors obtain abortion care without informing their parents or legal guardians. Newsom's Political Action Committee; campaign for democracyis paying for ads as part of a multi-state campaign on abortion rights.

Abortion rights advocates consider your options About a potential 2026 ballot initiative that would restore and protect access to reproductive health care in the state. idaho capital sun's Kelsey Moseley-Morris I will report.

Key context: The effort follows a second legislative session in which Idaho lawmakers chose not to clarify or amend a near-total anti-abortion law that carries prison sentences for abortion providers. “In the absence of relief, we are moving forward as fast as we can.” melanie falwellgroup spokesperson Idahoans unite for women and families.

Yes, but: The state constitution cannot be amended through the referendum initiative process. Only the Idaho Legislature has that power. Instead, the effort would come in the form of a voter-approved bill. Although the specific details of the proposal are still being worked out, Falwell said it may be difficult to untangle the state's overlapping abortion laws into a single bill.

Three Democratic senators take on childhood obesity and diabetes

sense. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Cory Booker (DN.J.) and peter welch (D-Vt.) Laws introduced On Friday, our colleagues will fight the U.S. childhood obesity and diabetes epidemic by going after ultra-processed food companies. lauren webber is written.

Their bill calls for a ban on junk food advertising aimed at children in the U.S. and new health and nutritional warning labels from the U.S. government. food and drug administration. Also, National Institutes of Health survey It addresses “the dangers posed by ultra-processed foods,” according to a news release from the senators.

“We cannot continue to allow large corporations in the food and beverage industry to prioritize profits over the health and well-being of our children,” Sanders said in a news release. He noted that Congress has previously taken up the tobacco industry, adding that it's time to do the same for big food companies.

Last year, the Post highlighted the lack of advertising regulation and lax dietary standards for children in the United States. Dying early series Investigating the prevalence of chronic disease in America.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont):

Emergency room refuses treatment to pregnant woman, one miscarriages in lobby bathroom (By Amanda Seitz | Associated Press)

Some older women may need additional breast scans. Why won't Medicare pay? (Written by Loni Caryn Rabin | New York Times)

Medicare ignored expert advice to cut testing for transplant patients: Report (by Cheyenne M. Daniels | The Hill)

thank you for reading! see you tomorrow.