LONDON -- The World Health Organization was holding an emergency meeting on Friday to discuss the recent outbreak of monkeypox, a viral infection more common to west and central Africa, after over 100 cases were confirmed or suspected in Europe. In what Germany described as the largest outbreak in Europe ever, cases have been reported in at least nine countries – Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom - as well as the United States, Canada and Australia. Spain reported 24 new cases on Friday, mainly in the Madrid region where the regional government closed a sauna linked to the majority of infections. A hospital in Israel was treating a man in his 30s who is displaying symptoms consistent with the disease after recently arriving from Western Europe. First identified in monkeys, the disease typically spreads through close contact and has rarely spread outside Africa, so this series of cases has triggered concern. … [Read more...] about WHO calls emergency meeting as monkeypox cases top 100 in Europe
Court appeal case tracker
Vietnam court jails ex-health official amid anti-graft drive
HANOI -- A court in Vietnam on Thursday sentenced a former deputy health minister to four years in prison for his involvement in a trading ring for fake medicines. Truong Quoc Cuong, 59, who had been a deputy health minister since 2016, was accused late last year of helping local firms to import more than VND148 billion ($6.4 million) worth of fake medicines to sell domestically, according to a Ministry of Public Security statement. Vietnam authorities have stepped up an anti-graft drive with a recent series of arrests targeting prominent business people, market regulators and health officials. Dozens of senior health officials have been accused of wrongdoing in medical procurement, including claims they overstated the cost of coronavirus test kits. The Communist Party of Vietnam has also proposed disciplining the Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long for his "involvement in wrongdoing". It was unclear if Cuong pleaded guilty. He was convicted of demonstrating a "lack of … [Read more...] about Vietnam court jails ex-health official amid anti-graft drive
Former Deputy Health Minister gets four years in jail in fake medicine case
Former Deputy Health Minister Truong Quoc Cuong at court (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Former Deputy Health Minister Truong Quoc Cuong was given four years in jail in the first-instance trial of the case relating to the trading of counterfeit medicine labelled as Health 2000 Canada; lack of responsibilities causing serious consequences; and abuse of positions and power while on duty, which took place in HCM City, some other localities and at the Health Ministry’s Drug Administration (DAV). The Hanoi People’s Court imposed the sentence on Cuong on May 19 for the lack of responsibilities causing serious consequences. Two other defendants, Nguyen Viet Hung, former deputy director of the DAV; and Le Dinh Thanh, a former official of Ho Chi Minh City Customs Department - were sentenced to three years and two years respectively, on the same charge as Cuong. Two former officials of the DAV – Pham Hong Chau and Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy – got four years for abusing positions and … [Read more...] about Former Deputy Health Minister gets four years in jail in fake medicine case
Former Deputy Health Minister gets four years in prison in fake medicine case
The defendants at the court. VNA/VNS Photo HÀ NỘI — Former Deputy Health Minister Trương Quốc Cường has been sentenced to four years in prison in the first-instance trial of the case relating to the trading of counterfeit medicine labelled 'Health 2000 Canada'. The verdict cited the official's lack of responsibility causing serious consequences; and abuse of positions and power while on duty, which took place in HCM City, some other localities, and at the Health Ministry’s Drug Administration (DAV). The Hà Nội People’s Court imposed the sentence on Cường on May 19. Two other defendants, Nguyễn Việt Hùng, former deputy director of the DAV; and Lê Đình Thanh, a former official of Hồ Chí Minh City Customs Department - were sentenced to three years and two years, respectively, on the same charge. Two former officials of the DAV – Phạm Hồng Châu and Nguyễn Thị Thu Thủy – were handed four years for abusing positions and power while on duty. Nine other defendants were given … [Read more...] about Former Deputy Health Minister gets four years in prison in fake medicine case
Vietnam issues 14 million ‘COVID-19 vaccine passports’
The Vietnamese Ministry of Health has issued 14 million ‘COVID-19 vaccine passports’ to the general public since April 15. A month after its official rollout, the passport is now available on the national COVID-19 app PC-Covid and the Digital Health app. It has 11 fields of information: name, date of birth, nationality, the targeted disease, doses of vaccines received, date of vaccination, lot number of the vaccine batch, type of vaccine, vaccine product received, the vaccine manufacturer, and a code for the certification. Information on the targeted disease, vaccine, vaccine product or manufacturer is compatible with the values provided in the World Health Organization’s 'COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker and Landscape' and the 'Value Sets for EU Digital COVID Certificates' issued by the European Union. Data is stored in a QR code, which will expire after 12 months. Following their expiration, users will be notified and a new QR code will be created. People who do not have the … [Read more...] about Vietnam issues 14 million ‘COVID-19 vaccine passports’
Former deputy health minister jailed in fake cancer drug scandal
Cuong was sentenced by the Hanoi’s People Court after being charged with "negligence that results in serious consequences". He is also forbidden from holding positions in the field of medicine for three years after finishing his sentence. Nguyen Minh Hung, former chairman of the management board of pharmaceutical firm Vietnam Pharma JSC, received 18 years in jail for "manufacturing and trading of counterfeit medicines for treatment or prevention of diseases". Hung had been sentenced to 17 years under the same charge at another trial over the case in 2019. His cumulative years to spend in prison will be 30 years, the maximum number of jail time for combined timed sentences in accordance with Vietnamese law. 12 others convicts related to the cases were also sentenced to between 2-20 years in jail. The sentences were the latest development in a counterfeit drug case involving Vietnam Pharma and the fake drug branded Health 2000 Canada. Cuong stands accused of violations that allowed … [Read more...] about Former deputy health minister jailed in fake cancer drug scandal