Mozambique to review health taxes in view of rising NCD prevalence
The Mozambican Ministry of Finance is preparing a reform of the Specific Consumption Tax (ICE),which includes taxes on tobacco, alcohol, sugar-sweetened beverages, cars, and other consumption goods. The country operates in the SADC tax harmonization framework,...
Vaccination against COVID with a booster dose is rolled out in Uzbekistan
Voluntary vaccination with a booster dose (revaccination with a single-component) against coronavirus is being rolled out in Uzbekistan. "In accordance with the instructions of the Chief State Sanitary Doctor of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in order to boost the...
WHO-facilitated access to European reference labs was vital in confirming COVID-19 cases
According to WHO/Europe news, throughout the pandemic, WHO reference laboratories have played a vital role in the confirmation of COVID-19 cases. They are mainly used when countries do not have the capacity to do all the testing they need themselves and when...
More than 100 000 Estonians received a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose
Over 100 thousand Estonian citizens received at least one booster dose of the coronavirus vaccine. This was stated in the press service of the Ministry of Social Affairs of the country. "In Estonia, at least one booster dose of the vaccine against COVID-19 was...
Europe’s expertise in COVID-19 contact tracing well utilized in Kyrgyzstan
WHO/Europe has been collecting and sharing best practices in contact tracing from countries of the WHO European Region and documenting a variety of approaches to develop case studies and to contribute to future guidelines and recommendations. Dr Richard Pebody,...
Pharmacies in Moldova act as a reliable source of information on COVID-19 vaccination
Over 300 pharmacists and 110 pharmacies are at the centre of a new awareness-raising campaign on COVID-19 vaccination in the Republic of Moldova. Launched on 24 September 2021 by the Ministry of Health and the Association of Pharmacists, the campaign is supported by...
Azerbaijan is working on developing a domestic vaccine against COVID-19
Research has begun in Azerbaijan on the creation of a domestic vaccine against coronavirus, regional media report with reference to Ramin Bayramli, Chairman of the Board of the Association for Management of Medical Territorial Subdivisions (TƏBIB) - branch of the...
Saudi Arabia to provide free COVID-19 vaccines in pharmacies
Saudi Arabia will provide coronavirus vaccines in pharmacies around the Kingdom for free as part of its efforts to expand the ongoing inoculation campaign and facilitate access to vaccine sites, he added. The doses will be given to people according to priority...
Saudi Arabia’s King Salman orders free COVID 19 treatment for all, including visa violators
Saudi Arabia's King Salman has ordered coronavirus treatment to be available, free of charge, for all citizens and expatriates in need of medical care, including people who have overstayed their visas in the Kingdom. The government urged all of those showing symptoms...
EU-funded project supported COVID-19 response in six Eastern Partnership countries, including Moldova
A 35 million euro grant from the European Union (EU) has strengthened COVID-19 response and saved lives in 6 countries in the WHO European Region. Over the course of 1.5 years, the funds have helped deliver nearly 12 million units of personal protective equipment,...
Azerbaijan started producing domestic PCR tests for COVID-19 to save costs and expand access
Production of COVID-19 PCR test kits began in Azerbaijan this week by the Diamed Co. Syringe Manufacturing Plant, a local medical factory established as a joint venture between the state and private sector in 2019. The joint venture saw the launch of an all-new...
New Qatar health financing and social health protection documents available
Two documents have been uploaded in the Qatar Country page. One is on the 2015 pricing for the national health insurance scheme at the time in Qatar, called ‘Seha’. The second one is an assessment of the country’s improving health financing and social health...
Azerbaijan handling the pandemic at the expense of its own financial resources
According to the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijan carried out all activities in the fight against the pandemic through domestic financial resources. "The COVID-19 pandemic continues to pose serious challenges to the world. Our...
The Small Countries Initiative leaders discussed universal health coverage and lessons learnt from the pandemic
According to WHO/Europe, the Small Countries Initiative (SCI) took the floor during the 71st session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe (RC71) in a side event dedicated to sharing lessons learned on COVID-19. Protection from emergencies, universal health...
President proposed to reduce total individual tax burden from 34% to 25% for small businesses
President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in his annual address to the people of Kazakhstan has traditionally devoted his speach to social protection and human capital development, as well as education and health sectors. Among new ideas, he mentioned: "Total...