Roz Scourse
@rozscourse.bsky.social
Access and Global Health Policy Lead, MSF UK. Personal account, views my own
Reposted by Roz Scourse
Q: Why should one of the wealthiest drug companies in the world be allowed to keep the price it’s charging a major global health institution for a lifesaving HIV prevention shot that’s about 100% effective, a secret? healthgap.org/press/gilead...
A: they shouldn’t
A: they shouldn’t
Gilead Imposes Price Secrecy on Global Fund Over Breakthrough HIV Prevention Shot, Blocking Transparency and Accountability
PRESS STATEMENTFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 9 2025Contact for more information: Asia Russell | +1 267 475 2645 [email protected] Susana van der Ploeg | +55 32 9921-7496 [email protected]...
healthgap.org
July 9, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Q: Why should one of the wealthiest drug companies in the world be allowed to keep the price it’s charging a major global health institution for a lifesaving HIV prevention shot that’s about 100% effective, a secret? healthgap.org/press/gilead...
A: they shouldn’t
A: they shouldn’t
Reposted by Roz Scourse
🔹 Clinical trial transparency
Clinical trials are the most costly part of developing medicines, yet cost is not disclosed by companies. Transparency here is essential to fair pricing and ensuring the public return.
(See the excellent Transparency CORE toolkit by MSF) @rozscourse.bsky.social /7
Clinical trials are the most costly part of developing medicines, yet cost is not disclosed by companies. Transparency here is essential to fair pricing and ensuring the public return.
(See the excellent Transparency CORE toolkit by MSF) @rozscourse.bsky.social /7
June 5, 2025 at 7:28 AM
🔹 Clinical trial transparency
Clinical trials are the most costly part of developing medicines, yet cost is not disclosed by companies. Transparency here is essential to fair pricing and ensuring the public return.
(See the excellent Transparency CORE toolkit by MSF) @rozscourse.bsky.social /7
Clinical trials are the most costly part of developing medicines, yet cost is not disclosed by companies. Transparency here is essential to fair pricing and ensuring the public return.
(See the excellent Transparency CORE toolkit by MSF) @rozscourse.bsky.social /7
Reposted by Roz Scourse
💬 What if national pharmaceutical policy could help fix global asymmetries in medicine access—by design?
🧵 A thread on translating international commitments into meaningful national reform: /1
#GlobalHealth #HealthPolicy 🛟 💊🌐
🧵 A thread on translating international commitments into meaningful national reform: /1
#GlobalHealth #HealthPolicy 🛟 💊🌐
June 5, 2025 at 7:28 AM
💬 What if national pharmaceutical policy could help fix global asymmetries in medicine access—by design?
🧵 A thread on translating international commitments into meaningful national reform: /1
#GlobalHealth #HealthPolicy 🛟 💊🌐
🧵 A thread on translating international commitments into meaningful national reform: /1
#GlobalHealth #HealthPolicy 🛟 💊🌐
Reposted by Roz Scourse
Grim how we are discussing relative catastrophic cuts to health - and the cuts are catastrophic - but in absolute terms, health spending was already unacceptably low.
WHO's budget shortfall = 8 hours of military spending.
From Tedros's speech to the WHA this week:
www.who.int/news-room/sp...
WHO's budget shortfall = 8 hours of military spending.
From Tedros's speech to the WHA this week:
www.who.int/news-room/sp...
May 23, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Grim how we are discussing relative catastrophic cuts to health - and the cuts are catastrophic - but in absolute terms, health spending was already unacceptably low.
WHO's budget shortfall = 8 hours of military spending.
From Tedros's speech to the WHA this week:
www.who.int/news-room/sp...
WHO's budget shortfall = 8 hours of military spending.
From Tedros's speech to the WHA this week:
www.who.int/news-room/sp...
Reposted by Roz Scourse
May 23, 2025 at 3:27 AM
One of the most powerful panel discussions I have seen in a long time; deep anger and outrage that parents are watching their children dying from rare diseases when treatments exist that could save their lives.
@justtreatment.org @3rdworldnetwork.bsky.social
@justtreatment.org @3rdworldnetwork.bsky.social
May 21, 2025 at 12:36 PM
One of the most powerful panel discussions I have seen in a long time; deep anger and outrage that parents are watching their children dying from rare diseases when treatments exist that could save their lives.
@justtreatment.org @3rdworldnetwork.bsky.social
@justtreatment.org @3rdworldnetwork.bsky.social
At the @wemos.org @hai-org.bsky.social #WHA78 side event on transparency where the Spanish Minister of Health highlights Pharma industry hypocrisy in saying they don’t know what their R&D costs are when this is the backbone of their justification for high prices
May 21, 2025 at 6:27 AM
At the @wemos.org @hai-org.bsky.social #WHA78 side event on transparency where the Spanish Minister of Health highlights Pharma industry hypocrisy in saying they don’t know what their R&D costs are when this is the backbone of their justification for high prices
Reposted by Roz Scourse
⚠️ South Africa: Lifesaving scientific research on prevention, testing, treatment and care for people living with #HIV and #tuberculosis is under serious threat due to funding suspensions and grant terminations U.S. government.
msfaccess.org/us-funding-c...
msfaccess.org/us-funding-c...
US funding cuts threaten 39 research sites in South Africa, putting scientific advancements and hard-won progress against TB and HIV at risk
TAG and MSF urge donors to act now to protect ongoing research and ensure continuity of care for people with HIV and TB
msfaccess.org
May 15, 2025 at 3:20 PM
⚠️ South Africa: Lifesaving scientific research on prevention, testing, treatment and care for people living with #HIV and #tuberculosis is under serious threat due to funding suspensions and grant terminations U.S. government.
msfaccess.org/us-funding-c...
msfaccess.org/us-funding-c...
Reposted by Roz Scourse
Incredibly sad news that the only Mycetoma research center in the world was destroyed in Khartoum. Scientists lost 40+ years of samples, a significant setback in the fight against an already neglected disease.
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
Gleaming labs turned to rubble: scientists mourn the loss of decades of medical progress in Sudan
Universities and laboratories in Khartoum are looted or in ruins, with vital research and medicines destroyed, including pioneering work on tropical diseases
www.theguardian.com
May 12, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Incredibly sad news that the only Mycetoma research center in the world was destroyed in Khartoum. Scientists lost 40+ years of samples, a significant setback in the fight against an already neglected disease.
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
www.theguardian.com/global-devel...
Reposted by Roz Scourse
Access to TB drug bedaquiline was delayed for over a decade due to its high price. It was the public disclosure of significant public and non-profit investments in its development that supported a global movement leading to a price reduction of this lifesaving drug. msfaccess.org/call-transpa...
Call for transparency: detailed cost analysis of MSF’s TB-PRACTECAL clinical trial in PLOS Global Public Health
MSF published the costs of its landmark TB-PRACTECAL clinical trial in the journal PLOS Global Public Health that cost a total of €33.9 million.
msfaccess.org
April 24, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Access to TB drug bedaquiline was delayed for over a decade due to its high price. It was the public disclosure of significant public and non-profit investments in its development that supported a global movement leading to a price reduction of this lifesaving drug. msfaccess.org/call-transpa...
Reposted by Roz Scourse
What did it cost for @msf.org to run a large TB clinical trial?
€33.9 million
Well done MSF for this transparent analysis!
journals.plos.org/globalpublic...
€33.9 million
Well done MSF for this transparent analysis!
journals.plos.org/globalpublic...
Cost analysis of the TB-PRACTECAL clinical trial on novel tuberculosis treatment regimens
Clinical trials are considered to be the largest contributor to pharmaceutical development costs. However, public disclosure of the costs of individual clinical trials is rare. Médecins Sans Frontiè...
journals.plos.org
April 24, 2025 at 11:09 AM
What did it cost for @msf.org to run a large TB clinical trial?
€33.9 million
Well done MSF for this transparent analysis!
journals.plos.org/globalpublic...
€33.9 million
Well done MSF for this transparent analysis!
journals.plos.org/globalpublic...
Today in PLOS Global Public Health, MSF has published the costs of its landmark TB-PRACTECAL clinical trial. This is the first time the detailed costs of an individual clinical trial have ever been shared, challenging the lack of transparency in drug R&D costs 🧵
journals.plos.org/globalpublic...
journals.plos.org/globalpublic...
Cost analysis of the TB-PRACTECAL clinical trial on novel tuberculosis treatment regimens
Clinical trials are considered to be the largest contributor to pharmaceutical development costs. However, public disclosure of the costs of individual clinical trials is rare. Médecins Sans Frontiè...
journals.plos.org
April 24, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Today in PLOS Global Public Health, MSF has published the costs of its landmark TB-PRACTECAL clinical trial. This is the first time the detailed costs of an individual clinical trial have ever been shared, challenging the lack of transparency in drug R&D costs 🧵
journals.plos.org/globalpublic...
journals.plos.org/globalpublic...
Awesome to see Gary @garyseconomics.bsky.social at the wealth tax rally
“I’m not very keen on rally’s. I always leave wondering if we can win. But I’m here cos I think we can win this one”
#TaxTheSuperRich
“I’m not very keen on rally’s. I always leave wondering if we can win. But I’m here cos I think we can win this one”
#TaxTheSuperRich
March 25, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Awesome to see Gary @garyseconomics.bsky.social at the wealth tax rally
“I’m not very keen on rally’s. I always leave wondering if we can win. But I’m here cos I think we can win this one”
#TaxTheSuperRich
“I’m not very keen on rally’s. I always leave wondering if we can win. But I’m here cos I think we can win this one”
#TaxTheSuperRich
Reposted by Roz Scourse
NEW POLLING:
77% support ⬆️ taxes on the very richest over cuts to public spending
78% support a 2% wealth tax on net wealth over £10m
67% - think the very richest people in the UK should pay more in tax
Tax the rich, don't punish the poor. @oxfamgb.bsky.social
www.oxfam.org.uk/media/press-...
77% support ⬆️ taxes on the very richest over cuts to public spending
78% support a 2% wealth tax on net wealth over £10m
67% - think the very richest people in the UK should pay more in tax
Tax the rich, don't punish the poor. @oxfamgb.bsky.social
www.oxfam.org.uk/media/press-...
Oxfam GB | Three quarters of British public would back government tax increases on very richest versus spending cuts
www.oxfam.org.uk
March 25, 2025 at 1:18 PM
NEW POLLING:
77% support ⬆️ taxes on the very richest over cuts to public spending
78% support a 2% wealth tax on net wealth over £10m
67% - think the very richest people in the UK should pay more in tax
Tax the rich, don't punish the poor. @oxfamgb.bsky.social
www.oxfam.org.uk/media/press-...
77% support ⬆️ taxes on the very richest over cuts to public spending
78% support a 2% wealth tax on net wealth over £10m
67% - think the very richest people in the UK should pay more in tax
Tax the rich, don't punish the poor. @oxfamgb.bsky.social
www.oxfam.org.uk/media/press-...
Reposted by Roz Scourse
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...
"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...
March 25, 2025 at 1:57 AM
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...
"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...
At most events on TB or HIV like this one for World TB Day, most speakers talk about their memories of how horrific the 80s and 90s were for these diseases in particular. Now with the massive aid cuts, there is clear fear of going backwards to anything close to those days
March 25, 2025 at 10:42 AM
At most events on TB or HIV like this one for World TB Day, most speakers talk about their memories of how horrific the 80s and 90s were for these diseases in particular. Now with the massive aid cuts, there is clear fear of going backwards to anything close to those days
Reposted by Roz Scourse
Very timely message for the UK government. No country can and should back track from any aid commitments right now! #FundingCutsCostLives
📢Today on #WorldTBDay we wrote to the UK govt calling for a reversal of the aid cuts - they will contribute to a devastation of TB services worldwide.
MSF projects are already seeing patients that are resistant to all TB treatments. The world's most vulnerable should not face more cuts to care 👇
MSF projects are already seeing patients that are resistant to all TB treatments. The world's most vulnerable should not face more cuts to care 👇
March 24, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Very timely message for the UK government. No country can and should back track from any aid commitments right now! #FundingCutsCostLives
📢Today on #WorldTBDay we wrote to the UK govt calling for a reversal of the aid cuts - they will contribute to a devastation of TB services worldwide.
MSF projects are already seeing patients that are resistant to all TB treatments. The world's most vulnerable should not face more cuts to care 👇
MSF projects are already seeing patients that are resistant to all TB treatments. The world's most vulnerable should not face more cuts to care 👇
March 24, 2025 at 1:15 PM
📢Today on #WorldTBDay we wrote to the UK govt calling for a reversal of the aid cuts - they will contribute to a devastation of TB services worldwide.
MSF projects are already seeing patients that are resistant to all TB treatments. The world's most vulnerable should not face more cuts to care 👇
MSF projects are already seeing patients that are resistant to all TB treatments. The world's most vulnerable should not face more cuts to care 👇
Reposted by Roz Scourse
Things look very grim for tuberculosis services due to abrupt cuts by the US government
Join us on Monday, on World TB Day as we discuss the latest crisis
Date: Monday, March 24, 2025
Time: 12 p.m. EDT / 9 a.m. PDT
RSVP: bit.ly/3XO86iQ
Join us on Monday, on World TB Day as we discuss the latest crisis
Date: Monday, March 24, 2025
Time: 12 p.m. EDT / 9 a.m. PDT
RSVP: bit.ly/3XO86iQ
March 22, 2025 at 7:49 AM
Things look very grim for tuberculosis services due to abrupt cuts by the US government
Join us on Monday, on World TB Day as we discuss the latest crisis
Date: Monday, March 24, 2025
Time: 12 p.m. EDT / 9 a.m. PDT
RSVP: bit.ly/3XO86iQ
Join us on Monday, on World TB Day as we discuss the latest crisis
Date: Monday, March 24, 2025
Time: 12 p.m. EDT / 9 a.m. PDT
RSVP: bit.ly/3XO86iQ
Reposted by Roz Scourse
MSF is clear: the threat facing us today is not only a global public health crisis, but also a full-scale humanitarian catastrophe and it demands immediate action, cooperation and a global approach that prioritises the lives of people above all else. #IDSky #TBSky
www.msf.org.za/news-and-res...
www.msf.org.za/news-and-res...
Treat the funding cuts like the humanitarian disaster that they are. | MSF
The US funding cuts will affect millions of the world’s most vulnerable people.
www.msf.org.za
March 19, 2025 at 4:28 PM
MSF is clear: the threat facing us today is not only a global public health crisis, but also a full-scale humanitarian catastrophe and it demands immediate action, cooperation and a global approach that prioritises the lives of people above all else. #IDSky #TBSky
www.msf.org.za/news-and-res...
www.msf.org.za/news-and-res...
Reposted by Roz Scourse
Increasingly high malnutrition rates in Yemen:
"If we don’t act now by boosting nutrition programs, ensuring affordable transport to health facilities, and bringing care closer to people in need then we risk an even greater surge in the months ahead." www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/urgen...
"If we don’t act now by boosting nutrition programs, ensuring affordable transport to health facilities, and bringing care closer to people in need then we risk an even greater surge in the months ahead." www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/urgen...
Urgent action needed amid increasingly high malnutrition rates in Yemen
More than 35,000 malnourished children were treated in MSF-supported facilities from 2022 to 2024.
www.doctorswithoutborders.org
March 19, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Increasingly high malnutrition rates in Yemen:
"If we don’t act now by boosting nutrition programs, ensuring affordable transport to health facilities, and bringing care closer to people in need then we risk an even greater surge in the months ahead." www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/urgen...
"If we don’t act now by boosting nutrition programs, ensuring affordable transport to health facilities, and bringing care closer to people in need then we risk an even greater surge in the months ahead." www.doctorswithoutborders.org/latest/urgen...
Reposted by Roz Scourse
WHO: “8 countries now have substantial disruptions to ARV therapy and will run out of medicines in the coming months. Disruptions to HIV programmes could undo 20 years of progress, leading to more than 10 million additional cases of HIV and 3 million deaths."
healthpolicy-watch.news/grim-global-...
healthpolicy-watch.news/grim-global-...
Grim Global Impact Of US Funds Withdrawal; WHO Mulls 'Terrible Choices' - Health Policy Watch
Meanwhile, the WHO is mulling “terrible choices” as it tries to trim 25% of its budget in the wake of the US withdrawal from the body.
healthpolicy-watch.news
March 18, 2025 at 10:47 AM
WHO: “8 countries now have substantial disruptions to ARV therapy and will run out of medicines in the coming months. Disruptions to HIV programmes could undo 20 years of progress, leading to more than 10 million additional cases of HIV and 3 million deaths."
healthpolicy-watch.news/grim-global-...
healthpolicy-watch.news/grim-global-...
Reposted by Roz Scourse
Really enjoyed this interview on CBS Evening News. www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2II...
Author John Green explains why "Everything Is Tuberculosis"
YouTube video by CBS Evening News
www.youtube.com
March 18, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Really enjoyed this interview on CBS Evening News. www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2II...
Reposted by Roz Scourse
#Gaza: In the early hours of March 18, Israeli forces attacked multiple areas in the Gaza Strip, after almost two-months of an already fragile ceasefire.
According to the Ministry of Health, hundreds of people have been killed.
According to the Ministry of Health, hundreds of people have been killed.
March 18, 2025 at 12:36 PM
#Gaza: In the early hours of March 18, Israeli forces attacked multiple areas in the Gaza Strip, after almost two-months of an already fragile ceasefire.
According to the Ministry of Health, hundreds of people have been killed.
According to the Ministry of Health, hundreds of people have been killed.