IAHPC Intervention at Human Rights Council Side Event
Dr. Megan Doherty delivering IAHPC's intervention a Human Rights Council side event. Photo used with permission.
IAHPC advocacy recommends that "governments enact normative, technical, and legal mechanisms to ringfence, protect, and monitor availability of controlled medicines as part of the right to health through carefully constructed policies that prohibit conflicts of interest and corporate capture of regulatory bodies.”
Dr. Megan Doherty represented IAHPC at an official side event of the 59th session of the United Nations' Human Rights Council, which ran from June 16 to July 8, 2025. Read the full text of her intervention, titled "Access to Medicine, Vaccines and Other Health Products," which took place on July 4.
APCA chief elected to INCB
The IAHPC congratulates Dr. Emmanuel Luyirika, executive director of the African Palliative Care Association, on his election to the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB). The World Health Organization proposed Dr. Luyirika as a candidate, making him eligible for election by the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The IAHPC signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the INCB in 2024, and we look forward to deepening our collaboration to improve safe global access to controlled medicines for patients with palliative care needs.
In memoriam: Her Excellency Julia Villatoro Tario
The IAHPC sent condolences to the Permanent Mission of El Salvador in Vienna on the premature death of their Ambassador, Dr. Julia Villatoro Toro. We honor her committed collaboration with IAHPC's advocacy to improve global availability of internationally controlled essential medicines, particularly in the realm of drug control. The Salvadoran mission has been a stalwart supporter of our side events, and Ambassador Villatoro moderated our Commission on Narcotic Drugs side event on IAHPC's "Opioid Price Watch and Global Monitoring of the Availability and Affordability Opioids" in 2024.
Presenting on IAHPC’s Opioid Price Watch project, with Ambassador Villatoro moderating our 2024 side event in Vienna. Photo by Katherine Pettus.
Read more of this week's issue of Pallinews
Reaching For The Top
Elevator Pitch Workshop report & a how-to guide to write your own.
Bhutan initiated palliative care
Just 8 years ago in a single hospital. Today, palliative care is part of its national health policy, with a written guideline and compulsory continuing education.
IAHPC Advocacy Briefs
International action to improve availability of opioids as an essential medicine & more.