Is the G20 a short-term crisis arrangement focused narrowly on economic issues? Or does the increased prominence of the G20 indicate significant change in global governance beyond the crisis and beyond finance?
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16 Nov 2009 / Devi Sridhar
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19 May 2009 / Rajaie Batniji
The World Health Organization and its director-general received high praise for the handling of the H1N1, or ‘swine flu’ pandemic. The pandemic has spread to 39 countries and nearly 8500 persons, and appears to be no more lethal than a normal seasonal flu. Despite the positive press for WHO and health agencies throughout the world, this H1N1 outbreak reveals fundamental shortcomings in our preparedness for a major, and more lethal, pandemic.
With the exception of information-sharing, WHO’s performance has been far from stellar. WHO has not been able to limit unilateral measures lacking a scientific basis, nor has it demonstrated the functioning infrastructure to redistribute medicines and vaccines to curb an epidemic. Today’s H1N1 pandemic shows that once a pandemic is active, WHO’s ability to facilitate international cooperation is constrained. International agreement is needed not only to report cases, but to coordinate policies based on scientific knowledge, and to make supplies available where they are needed.
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02 Apr 2009 / Rajaie Batniji
The G20 meeting in London will bring together leaders focusing on the global economic crisis. The financial crisis could contribute to a health crisis poor countries. The G20 can take actions to avert a health crisis. We spell these actions out in a policy brief available here.
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20 Nov 2008 / Rajaie Batniji
Will action on research for health be driven by efficiency or equity? Will research be fast or fair? This week in Bamako, Ministers and their representatives from 59 countries chose equity over efficiency.
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19 Nov 2008 / GEG
GEG Senior Researcher Devi Sridhar and Research Associate Rajaie Batniji have published a study in the Lancet examining the financing of global health.
