News

New Oxfam Novib publication: stories of influencing networks

Wemos continues our work on the Global Financing Facility (GFF) through the contribution to a newly published paper by Oxfam Novib, ‘Beating the Drum: Stories of Influencing Networks’. The publication is a collection of stories about influencing networks working in various thematic fields, and focuses on learning about partnerships and how these can be mutually beneficial within the context of a network. Wemos contributed to the collection of stories with our advocacy work on the GFF.

Continue reading →

Watch the plan, watch the GAP!

The ‘Global Action Plan for Healthy Lives and Well-being for All’ (GAP) was launched in September 2019 by twelve multilateral health, development and humanitarian agencies  to better support countries to accelerate progress towards the health-related Sustainable Development Goals through strengthened collaboration and coordination. However, since then, there has been not much news about the GAP and its implementation. Today, the Watch the GAP! Task Group (which includes Wemos) launches its analysis paper on the GAP. Does it fit with national health policies and ownership? Does the GAP contribute to what it is intended to do, and can it make a difference?

Continue reading →

Kick-off webinar of the Dutch Global Health Alliance: local data, local decisions

On July 2nd, the Dutch Global Health Alliance – a partnership of Amref Flying Doctors, Cordaid, KIT Royal Tropical Institute, KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, and Wemos – will host its first webinar about the importance of collecting and using subnational health data for decision-making in low- and middle-income countries. Set against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, this webinar aims to raise awareness among Dutch global health and development actors about the role they can play in supporting LMIC to better utilise subnational data.

Continue reading →

Is it time for a refresh of the Global Financing Facility?

Wemos critically follows the developments and outcomes of the Global Financing Facility (GFF) for Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Nutrition. It is currently under the process of a ‘strategy refresh’, planned to be launched around September 2020. With our new fact sheet, we looked into the implications of a potential shift from the GFF’s current structure as a Multi-Donor Trust Fund towards a Financial Intermediary Fund.

Continue reading →

Social responsibility of the pharmaceutical industry

Pharmaceutical companies have a shared responsibility to ensure equal and unlimited access to health care for the population. Therefore they should provide fairly priced medicines, and should be more transparent about development costs. The current reality, however, is that the costs of intramural medicines are increasing and are bound to become unmanageable. This has a detrimental impact on patients and society. This is the main message of Ella Weggen (Wemos), Wilbert Bannenberg (Pharmaceutical Accountability Foundation) and Robin Veenman (master’s student at the University of Amsterdam) in their article in the edition ‘Een rechtvaardig geneesmiddelbeleid’ (a fair medicines policy) of Podium voor Bio-ethiek.

Continue reading →

Upcoming webinar: COVID-19 & the future of pharmaceuticals

Challenges around accessible and affordable medicines have become even more pressing in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic. How can we ensure that publicly funded pharmaceuticals are accessible to patients in Europe and the rest of the world? And what changes do we need to see in EU policy? On Friday June 19th, Members of European Parliament Kim van Sparrentak, Sophie in ‘T Veld, Marc Botenga, together with Commons Network, Fair Medicine, Health Action International, License to Heal, Médecins Sans Frontières, Universities Allied for Essential Medicines NL, and Wemos will discuss these questions (and more) during the online roundtable webinar on ‘Covid-19 and beyond: the future of publicly funded pharmaceuticals to ensure affordable health for all’. Make sure to register!

Continue reading →

Invest in health systems strengthening to effectively respond to COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly exposed the cracks in health systems worldwide – but particularly in low-income countries, e.g. in African countries. Our partner organisations in Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda shared their concerns about developments on national level, such as the lack of information on COVID-19, health workforce shortages, and disruption of key essential and emergency services including for sexual and reproductive health. We have incorporated these concerns, together with our analysis of COVID-19 and health systems, and our recommendations, in a new joint position paper.

Continue reading →

2019: our eventful year in review!

We are proud to present Wemos’ year overview 2019. As last year also marked our 40th anniversary, it was a special year that gave us the opportunity to look back on our history, and see how far we’ve come as an organisation. Want to find out about our programmes’ achievements, many media appearances, new collaborations and how we celebrated our 40th birthday? Head on over to our new interactive document!

Continue reading →