Adam R Houston
LightNews LightNews
banner
healthlawadamh.bsky.social
Adam R Houston
@healthlawadamh.bsky.social
7.2K followers 860 following 1.1K posts
Health/Law/Human Rights. Thinking globally, meeting CanCon requirements. Disproportionately but not exclusively access to medicines/global health/humanitarian response/public health/infectious disease.
Posts Replies Media Videos
Pinned
healthlawadamh.bsky.social
Adam R Houston @healthlawadamh.bsky.social · Mar 25
New from us @plosglobalpublichealth.org
"Cholera vaccines for the rich, #cholera for the poor: While the global cholera vaccine stockpile runs dry, a booming market for high-income countries exemplifies the chasm between commercial interests and global health needs" journals.plos.org/globalpublic...
Screenshot of the title of the article and the PLOS Global Public Health logo
healthlawadamh.bsky.social
So many intriguing angles to the issue of Japanese bear attacks.
"High number of bear attacks possible in 2027 due to expected poor nut harvest"
www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/12...
High number of bear attacks possible in 2027 due to expected poor nut harvest
Beechnut harvests are considered to influence the number of bear incidents Japan sees each year.
www.japantimes.co.jp
December 9, 2025 at 2:33 AM
healthlawadamh.bsky.social
Some interesting analysis here:
"Five takeaways from the UN’s aid plans for 2026" www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news/2025/12...
Screenshot of the three paragraphs of the linked article following the heading "There are prioritization haves and have nots"
December 8, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Reposted by Adam R Houston
healthlawadamh.bsky.social
The right job for somebody:
MSF Access Executive Director
#AccessToMedicines #a2m 💊⚖️🌐
msf.recruitee.com/o/msf-access...
Screenshot of the job description from the linked document
December 4, 2025 at 5:27 PM
healthlawadamh.bsky.social
😬 "Human-to-Human #Rabies Transmission via Solid Organ #Transplantation from a Donor with Undiagnosed Rabies — United States, October 2024–February 2025"
www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes...
Screenshot of the abstract of the linked article
December 6, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Reposted by Adam R Houston
healthlawadamh.bsky.social
The new Annual Report of the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board ( #PMPRB) is out.
Not very cheery. 💊💰
www.canada.ca/en/patented-...
Paragraph from the linked report reading "Our analysis of the market for patented medicines in 2024 characterizes the difference in domestic and international markets for pharmaceuticals. Canadian list prices for patented medicines rose by 1.0% in 2024 while prices in most comparator countries declined. For this reason, Canadian prices were at the top of the PMPRB comparator countries (“PMPRB11”) this year and fifth among the broader set of OECD countries. In general, countries with a GDP per capita similar to Canada tended to have lower prices for patented medicines. Sales of patented medicines in Canada increased by 10.9% to reach $22.1 billion in 2024, representing 47% of the sales of all medicines. At the same time, Rights Holders reported close to $1.4 billion in total spending on research and development (R&D), up 21% from the year before. A closer look at these R&D expenditures shows that over three quarters of reporting companies had an R&D-to-sales ratio below 5%, with 46% reporting no R&D expenditures for 2024. Canada’s overall R&D-to-sales ratio remains well below the average for PMPRB11 countries."
December 3, 2025 at 9:45 PM
healthlawadamh.bsky.social
Did not know in advance that the star-crossed romance at the centre of Sean Penn's terrible aid worker movie took place across the Médecins du Monde/Médecins Sans Frontières divide.
December 6, 2025 at 4:28 AM
Reposted by Adam R Houston
who.int
New WHO report shows growing resistance to lifesaving malaria drugs:

🚩 Partial resistance to artemisinin confirmed or suspected in at least 8 African countries
🚩 Pyrethroid resistance in 48 countries
🚩 Anopheles stephensi 🦟 now detected in 9 African countries

🔗 bit.ly/3Y6IcXn #EndMalaria
A health worker wearing a mask and cap sprays insecticide. Text on the image reads: “Malaria control is facing new and harder challenges.” Yellow labels list the challenges: “Drug resistance,” “Insecticide resistance,” “New mosquito threat,” “Extreme weather events,” and “Conflict.”
December 5, 2025 at 7:45 AM
healthlawadamh.bsky.social
"How Labour slashed overseas aid — and got away with it
The U.K. government this year shocked its progressive base with deep cuts to Britain’s aid system. But there was little political fuss, and some now wonder if Chancellor Rachel Reeves could repeat the great aid robbery."
How Labour slashed overseas aid — and got away with it
The U.K. government this year shocked its progressive base with deep cuts to Britain’s aid system. But there was little political fuss, and some now wonder if Chancellor Rachel Reeves could repeat …
www.politico.eu
December 5, 2025 at 7:55 PM
healthlawadamh.bsky.social
"Switzerland records first case of West Nile" www.swissinfo.ch/eng/various/...
Switzerland records first case of West Nile fever
According to the authorities, there is no risk to the population as the mosquito season is over and the virus is not transmitted from person to person.
www.swissinfo.ch
December 5, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Reposted by Adam R Houston
outbreaknews.bsky.social
Investigational Marburg vaccine sent to Ethiopia
open.substack.com/pub/outbreak...
Investigational Marburg vaccine sent to Ethiopia
In a follow-up on the Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) outbreakin Ethiopia, the Washington DC based Sabin Vaccine Institute (Sabin) has sent more than 640 doses of its investigational cAd3-Marburg Vaccine ...
open.substack.com
December 4, 2025 at 10:42 PM
healthlawadamh.bsky.social
Have just started this book, which thus far is very much as anticipated.
Screenshot of paragraph reading: "There’s nothing like a rapidly spreading respiratory infectious disease to emphasize just how connected the modern world is. For most of human history it would have taken years for a virus to spread from China to Europe. Now it could happen in less time than it took to marinade the ribs on the Hard Rock menu. In fact, COVID-19 may have been spreading around us at Davos already: The WEF was packed, with lots of attendees from China and across the world. Cynthia and I both caught respiratory infections there, becoming sick on the last day, and passed them on to my deputy CEO at Gavi, who became quite ill. We later suspected that it might have been COVID-19, though we can’t be sure as there were no tests at the time. At the bar that night, we agreed that there was potential for the new virus to spread dramatically. Regardless of whether this was or was not the Big One, we needed to prepare."
December 4, 2025 at 8:59 PM
healthlawadamh.bsky.social
The right job for somebody:
MSF Access Executive Director
#AccessToMedicines #a2m 💊⚖️🌐
msf.recruitee.com/o/msf-access...
Screenshot of the job description from the linked document
December 4, 2025 at 5:27 PM
healthlawadamh.bsky.social
"Fake or faulty chemo threatens #cancer care in Africa -
Substandard and falsified chemotherapy found across four countries, prompting calls for pooled, procurement and tougher surveillance." www.nature.com/articles/d44...
Fake or faulty chemo threatens cancer care in Africa
Substandard and falsified chemotherapy found across four countries, prompting calls for pooled, procurement and tougher surveillance.
www.nature.com
December 4, 2025 at 5:24 AM
healthlawadamh.bsky.social
"Ontario wrote off $1.4 billion of personal protective equipment, auditor finds" www.cp24.com/politics/que... 😷🗑️
Ontario wrote off $1.4 billion of personal protective equipment, auditor finds
Ontario wrote off more than one billion items of personal protective equipment at a cost of $1.4 billion since 2021, the province’s auditor general found.
www.cp24.com
December 3, 2025 at 10:57 PM
healthlawadamh.bsky.social
The new Annual Report of the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board ( #PMPRB) is out.
Not very cheery. 💊💰
www.canada.ca/en/patented-...
Paragraph from the linked report reading "Our analysis of the market for patented medicines in 2024 characterizes the difference in domestic and international markets for pharmaceuticals. Canadian list prices for patented medicines rose by 1.0% in 2024 while prices in most comparator countries declined. For this reason, Canadian prices were at the top of the PMPRB comparator countries (“PMPRB11”) this year and fifth among the broader set of OECD countries. In general, countries with a GDP per capita similar to Canada tended to have lower prices for patented medicines. Sales of patented medicines in Canada increased by 10.9% to reach $22.1 billion in 2024, representing 47% of the sales of all medicines. At the same time, Rights Holders reported close to $1.4 billion in total spending on research and development (R&D), up 21% from the year before. A closer look at these R&D expenditures shows that over three quarters of reporting companies had an R&D-to-sales ratio below 5%, with 46% reporting no R&D expenditures for 2024. Canada’s overall R&D-to-sales ratio remains well below the average for PMPRB11 countries."
December 3, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Reposted by Adam R Houston
policyalternatives.ca
Unless the federal government acts, prescription drugs are very likely to get more expensive. But there’s still time to preserve and enhance affordability. By Joel Lexchin @policyalternatives.ca
www.policyalternatives.ca/news-researc...
Prescription drug prices are very likely to increase in Canada - CCPA
Canada has a drug price problem, and it risks getting a lot worse in the near future. Canadian prices for patented drugs are already the 4th highest amongst 31 countries in the Organization for Econom...
www.policyalternatives.ca
December 3, 2025 at 2:23 PM
healthlawadamh.bsky.social
Update on the #Marburg outbreak in Ethiopia:
Image of the Dec 2 daily update from the Ethiopian ministry of health found here https://x.com/FMoHealth/status/1995907476013658364/photo/2
December 2, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Reposted by Adam R Houston
msfaccess.org
Novo Nordisk discontinues key insulin products in EU/EEA for commercial reasons: “Yet another unacceptable example of pharmaceutical corporations putting profits before people’s health.”

msfaccess.org/msf-responds...
MSF responds to Novo Nordisk’s discontinuation of key insulin products in EU/EEA
Discontinuation of key insulin products for commercial reasons another example of pharmaceutical corporations putting profits before people’s health.
msfaccess.org
December 2, 2025 at 4:22 PM
healthlawadamh.bsky.social
🤔"The pan-Canadian Pharmaceutical Alliance (pCPA), a body that represents all federal and provincial drug plans, said Monday that it had concluded negotiations with #NovoNordisk without a deal after two months because the manufacturer had declined to negotiate #Wegovy ’s price."💊💉💰
Canada’s public health plans end talks with Novo Nordisk to cover weight-loss drug Wegovy
Drug contains same active ingredient as Ozempic, which is prescribed for type 2 diabetes and is by far the best-selling drug in Canada
www.theglobeandmail.com
December 2, 2025 at 4:36 AM
healthlawadamh.bsky.social
"In 2024, Manitoba had the highest #HIV infection rate in Canada, excluding Quebec, with 19.5 per 100,000 people infected, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. Saskatchewan trailed in second at 18.6 per 100,000 people infected." www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
Manitoba's HIV infection rates were Canada's highest in 2024, federal data suggests | CBC News
New federal figures suggest Manitoba had the highest incidence of new diagnoses of HIV across Canada last year, and advocates say the province needs a better monitoring and evaluation system before ca...
www.cbc.ca
December 2, 2025 at 2:14 AM
Reposted by Adam R Houston
msfaccess.org
Happening tomorrow!
tbfighters.org TBFighters @tbfighters.org · 13d
Only one week until our third-ever TB Ed Talk with @msfaccess.org's Dr Stijn Deborggraeve! Tune in to learn why diagnosing TB in children is so difficult and how we can work together to do better. Submit questions at the link below or ask questions live: docs.google.com/form...
#PedSky #IdSky #TBSky
TB In Children: What's The Problem And What Can We Do? with Dr. Stijn Deborggraeve Advocacy Advisor Paediatric Tuberculosis at Médecins Sans Frontières Live presentation on YouTube followed by a Q&A. Tuesday, December 2nd 10:30am ET/4:30pm CET. Pre-submit questions at the link in the description
December 1, 2025 at 3:10 PM
healthlawadamh.bsky.social
"Hundreds of thousands of sheep and goats are being culled in Greece, due to the outbreak of an infectious disease. It may affect production and exports of the country's famous feta cheese." www.bbc.com/news/article...
Greek sheep and goat cull raises fears of feta cheese shortage
Livestock is being culled across the country due to an infectious disease outbreak.
www.bbc.com
December 1, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Reposted by Adam R Houston
msfaccess.org
Negotiations on the Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) system, a key aspect of the WHO Pandemic Agreement adopted in May this year, began today. Read our statement and asks: msfaccess.org/msf-welcomes...
MSF Statement at IGWG4
MSF Statement at the WHO Pandemic Agreement discussions
msfaccess.org
December 1, 2025 at 6:01 PM
healthlawadamh.bsky.social
"Democratic Republic of the Congo declares end of 16th #Ebola outbreak" www.afro.who.int/countries/de...
"In total, 64 cases (53 confirmed, 11 probable) and 45 deaths were recorded in the outbreak."
Democratic Republic of the Congo declares end of 16th Ebola outbreak
Kinshasa—The Democratic Republic of the Congo today declared the end of the Ebola virus disease outbreak in Kasai Province, after no new cases were reported in the past 42 days since the last patient ...
www.afro.who.int
December 1, 2025 at 5:14 PM
healthlawadamh.bsky.social
"Under the agreement, Britain will raise the net price it pays for new U.S. medicines by 25%. In return, UK-made medicines, drug ingredients and medical technology will be exempt from Section 232 sectoral tariffs and any future Section 301 country tariffs." 💰🛃💊
US announces zero tariff pharmaceutical deal with Britain
The United States and Britain announced a deal on Monday to securezero tariffs on British pharmaceutical products and medical technology in return for Britain spending more on medicines and overhaulin...
www.reuters.com
December 1, 2025 at 4:55 PM