News

This is where you can browse all the latest updates from HJI and its partners, comprising research, advocacy, policy development, and litigation across all themes of our work.

Press release

December 13, 2024

Joint Statement in Response to South African Competition Commission Decision to Drop Investigation Against Vertex Pharmaceuticals on Treatment for Cystic Fibrosis

FAQ: Gilead’s LENACAPAVIR (LEN-LA) license and implications for access

December 12, 2024

FAQ: Gilead’s LENACAPAVIR (LEN-LA) license and implications for access

Press release

December 2, 2024

Activist Coalition Demands Accelerated Access to Revolutionary HIV Prevention

September 18, 2024

Health Justice is Social Justice: The duty to speak up and out

Events

September 5, 2024

Events (Speaking Engagements / Conferences / Webinars)

Press release

July 5, 2024

MSF and Health Justice Initiative welcome J&J’s withdrawal of patents on lifesaving TB drug in South Africa

Speeches and Lectures

September 18, 2024

Health Justice is Social Justice: The duty to speak up and out

lectures

May 9, 2024

Boehm Lecture: How Canadians can help lead the global fight for health equity

lectures

March 1, 2024

Yoliswa Dwane Public Lecture 2024: ‘The Local and Global: Connecting Struggles for Justice and Equality’

May 12, 2022

Calgary Peace Prize speech: Vaccine apartheid is racist and wrong

HJI in the News

2024

06 September 2024 A recent Competition Commission probe resulted in the dropping of a patent on a key Tuberculosis drug in SA. Cape Talk Radio
15 August 2024, A dose of their own medicine: Should SA force big drug makers to let others make insulin pens too? Bhekisisa
28 May 2024, Covid-19: South African disclosures reveal secretive world of nations’ vaccine contracts, BMJ
24 May 2024, IHP news 776: Launch of 2nd season Transmission podcast & final countdown to #WHA77, International Health Policy
24 May 2024, Documents reveal how Pfizer, Moderna ‘profiteered’ in COVID-19 vaccine negotiations, Mmegi
24 May 2024, Organs of state owe it to the public to be transparent Business Day
24 May 2024, Bullied by makers of Covid Vaccines, Cape Talk Radio

23 May 2024, Documents reveal how Pfizer and Moderna ‘profiteered’ in Covid-19 vaccine negotiations, SAfm
23 May 2024, How Big Pharma kept COVID-19 vaccine negotiations in South Africa secret, Devex

23 May 2024, South Africa Bullied By Big Pharma In COVID-19 Vaccines Contract Negotiations, Health-e News
22 May 2024, Moderna’s Outsized Price Ask for COVID Vaccines in South Africa Highlights Need to ‘Rein in Corporates’ in Pandemics, Health Policy Watch
22 May 2024, More of Big Pharma’s Covid vaccine bully tactics laid bare, Juta medical brief
22 May 2024, Pfizer and Moderna allegedly ‘benefited’ from Covid vaccine negotiations, Post soviet
21 May 2024, SA strong-armed by pharma giants over Covid vaccine prices, Business Day
21 May 2024, Documents reveal how Pfizer and Moderna ‘profiteered’ in Covid-19 vaccine negotiations, Daily Maverick
21 May 2024, South Africa: Documents Reveal How Pfizer and Moderna ‘Profiteered’ in Covid-19 Vaccine Negotiations, AllAfrica

15 December 2023, The Geneva Health Files Interview with Fatima Hassan
21 September 2023, South Africa paid double EU price for COVID vaccines, unredacted contracts reveal, POLITICO
11 September 2023, Analysis finds SA was bullied into one-sided, imperial and immoral Covid-19 vaccine contracts. Daily Maverick
10 September 2023, We were screwed over vaccines: Crisp. Sunday Times
7 September 2023, EDITORIAL: SA’s raw deal on Covid-19 vaccines, Business Day
7 September 2023, The secrets of South Africa’s COVID-19 vaccine deals, Devex
6 September 2023, COVID-19 Pandemic | Details of vaccine procurement contracts revealed: Fatima Hassan. SABC News
6 September 2023, South Africa ‘held to ransom’ by big pharma, overcharged for COVID vaccines. Al Jazeera
6 September 2023, Big pharma bullied SA govt on Covid-19 vaccines, newly released contracts obtained by Health Justice Initiative show. IOL
6 September 2023, South Africa forced into ‘one-sided’ deals with Covid vaccine suppliers , STAT News
5 September 2023, Secret vaccine contracts in South Africa authorized high prices and huge advance payments. The Globe & Mail
5 September 2023, Covid Vaccine Contracts Show How Big Pharma ‘Held South Africa to Ransom‘. Common Dreams
5 September 2023, Pharmaceutical giants ‘bullied’ SA into signing ‘one-sided’ Covid-19 contracts, says NPO. Jacaranda FM
5 September 2023, Contracts show how SA govt was ‘bullied’ into unfair Covid-19 vaccine deals. City Press
5 September 2023, South Africa paid double EU price for COVID vaccines, unredacted contracts reveal. POLITICO
5 September 2023, Discussion | Disclosure of COVID-19 vaccine contracts. eNCA
5 September 2023, Pharma giants set SA vaccine price tag at $734m, confidential contracts reveal. Bizcommunity
5 September 2023, ‘Bullying’ Pharma Giants Charged South Africa More Than EU For COVID-19 Vaccines – Health Policy Watch, Health Policy News
5 September 2023, The Health Justice Initiative and other stakeholders say South Africa was forced to overpay for COVID-19 vaccines. eNCA
5 September 2023, Covid-19 contracts reveal that Big Pharma ‘bullied’ SA while securing vaccines worth $734m – NGO, Daily Maverick
5 September 2023, [BREAKING NEWS] The Health Justice Initiative says pharmaceutical companies held South Africa to ransom over COVID-19 vaccines. eNCA
5 September 2023, South Africa overpaid for Covid-19 vaccines: Health Justice Initiative. Times Live
5 September 2023, Covid vaccine contracts hold SA to ransom. Business Day
1 September 2023, Health department complies with court order to hand over Covid-19 vaccine contracts. City Press
1 September 2023, Govt releases Covid-19 vaccine contracts. Radio 786
1 September 2023, SA Health Ministry hands over confidential Covid-19 vaccine contracts. Bizcommunity
1 September 2023, Staat oorhandig SARS-CoV-2-entstofkontrakte. Netwerk24
1 September 2023, NATIONAL Health department hands over Covid-19 contracts to NGO. Business Day
31 August 2023, South Africa: Covid‑19 contracts disclosure may blow the lid off procurement corruption. The Africa Report
30 August 2023, Health department to hand over Covid-19 vaccine contracts. Business Day
23 August 2023, Judge orders Health Department to disclose vaccine contract data. Juta Medical Brief
18 August 2023, Access to Covid vaccine contracts a major victory for transparency. IOL
18 August 2023, Court Orders National Health Department To Disclose Details Of Covid-19 Vaccine Contracts. Health-e News
18 August 2023, HJI awaits revelation of Covid-19 vaccine procurement ‘secrets’. Moneyweb
17 August 2023, Health department must hand over Covid vaccine procurement documents. GroundUp
17 August 2023, Court orders health department to hand over all Covid vaccine contract info to NPO. City Press
17 August 2023, Covid-19: A momentous court victory! NESEA
17 August 2023, Cough up the Covid contracts: Court orders health department to disclose vaccine procurement contracts. News24
17 August 2023, Health department must hand over Covid vaccine contracts. Mail & Guardian.
17 August 2023, Court orders Health Department to make Big Pharma Covid-19 vaccine contracts public. Daily Maverick
17 August 2023, Court orders Health Department to publish Covid-19 contracts. Algoa FM
17 August 2023, Court Compels South Africa to Reveal Details of its COVID-19 Vaccine Contracts. Health Policy Watch
27 July 2023, EDITORIAL: End the secrecy on Covid-19 vaccine contracts. Business Day
26 July 2023, Health Justice Initiative challenges State to disclose records concerning procurement of Covid-19 vaccines.IOL
26 July 2023, The High Court in Gauteng has now heard arguments from the Health Justice Initiative – who are asking that government make public the contracts signed with. SAfm
25 July 2023, Health Justice Initiative launches litigation for disclosure of SA’s COVID-19 vaccine contracts. SABC
25 July 2023, NGO calls for transparency in COVID-19 vaccine procurement processes. eNCA
25 July 2023, Campaigners taking SA Government to court. BBC Newsday. (Segment from 36.42 to 40.36.)
25 July 2023, The Health Justice Initiative takes South African Government to court to blow the lid on Covid vaccine procurement secrecy. Radio 702
25 July 2023, The Health Justice Initiative (HJI) requests disclosure of South Africa’s Covid-19 vaccine contracts. Cape Talk
25 July 2023, South Africa faces court hearing over opaque Covid-19 vaccine contracts. Stat
25 July 2023, Department hauled to court over Covid-19 vaccine deals. IOL

25 July 2023, Campaigners take South African Government to court to blow the lid on Covid vaccine procurement secrecy. Top Africa News
5 July 2023, South Africa’s ‘secret’ Covid-19 vaccine procurement comes under the spotlight in court. IOL
24 July 2023, Campaigners take South African Government to court over Covid vaccine procurement secrecy. Agenparl.eu
24 July 2023, High noon for Covid deals as state goes to court to keep vaccine contracts secret, Radio 702
24 July 2023, Govt to go to court to keep vaccine contracts secret. Business Day TV
24 July 2023, Demand for disclosure of Covid-19 vaccines expenditure. Newzroom Afrika
24 July 2023, Response to Calls for Transparency on South Africa’s Covid-19 Vaccine Contracts. Ti-health.org
24 July 2023, HJI wants govt to disclose records of Covid-19 procurement contracts. Polity
24 July 2023, Response to calls for transparency on South Africa’s Covid-19 vaccine contracts. Transparency International
24 July 2023, High noon for Covid deals as state goes to court to keep vaccine contracts secret. Business Day
24 July 2023, Campaigners take South African Government to court to blow the lid on Covid vaccine procurement secrecy. Top Africa News
24 July 2023, Government taken to court to expose COVID-19 vaccines procurement secrets. CapeTownEtc
24 July 2023, South African Court To Decide Whether COVID-19 Vaccine Contracts Should Be Published. Pink Sheet Citeline Regulatory
24 July 2023, High court to hear application for full details of government Covid vaccine contracts. IOL
14 June 2023 – Mixed reactions to the passing of the National Health Insurance Bill by the National Assembly, SAfm
13 June 2023 – South African National Assembly passes the National Health Insurance Bill, SAfm
15 May 2023, The Vaccine Problem, Sharon Nadeem, Global Reporting Centre and The Walrus
22 January 2023, Anti-Xenophobia groups condemn attacks on migrants
SABC News
20 January 2023 – Collective Voices against Health Xenophobia statement on Jeppe clinic attacks by Operation Dudula
18 January 2023, HPSIG Podcast: The Health of Sex Workers in South Africa, PsySSA

5 October 2022, Like copying a Louis Vuitton handbag’: big pharma hits out at Africa’s replica Covid vaccine, The Guardian
24 October 2022, This week – Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement, United Nations Day and talk on National Health Insurance Bill, Daily Maverick
8 September 2022, Inequitable Global Health Responses Underscore Need for More Self- Sufficiency in Developing Countries, Inter Press Service
13 September 2022, “There should be no secrecy in a pandemic”
25 August 2022, Inequitable Global Health Responses Underscore Need for More Self-Sufficiency in Developing Countries, Inter Press Service
29 June 2022, Ramaphosa warns G7 leaders of new aim for patent waiver on Covid therapeutics and diagnostics, Daily Maverick
23 June 2022, Global Access to COVID-19 Vaccines & Tests Limited by WTO Deal Pushed by Rich Countries & Big Pharma, Democracy Now
23 June 2022, TRIPS waiver | SA-India proposed waiver, eNCA

11 April 2022, The Leaked WTO Covid Patent Waiver Text Is Very Bad, Common Dreams
11 April 2022, Hof genader on advies, besluite oor pandemie openbaar te maak, Maroela Media
8 April 2022, Justice initiative goes to court to force COVID-19 MAC decisions to be public,Radio 702
9 April 2022, The Health Justice Initiative approaches courts to make expert Covid-19 pandemic advice and decisions public, SAfm
8 April 2022, Health Justice Initiative wants pandemic information made public. eNCA
8 April 2022 Lockdown and Covid19 Radio Pretoria
7 April 2022, Health Justice Initiative heads to court to have Covid-19 MAC decisions made public news24
7 April 2022, Activists go to court to scrutinise vaccine advice to government, Business Day
7 April 2022, The Health Justice Initiative approaches courts to make expert Covid-19 pandemic advice and decisions public, Polity
7 April 2022, Application to compel public release of expert COVID advice and decisions Medical Brief
7 April 2022, SA’s arbitrary Covid-19 pandemic management called into question by HJI BizNews
7 April 2022, Organisasie wil weet hoe regering besluite oor pandemie neem Netwerk24
7 April 2022, Health Justice Initiative se dirige a los tribunales para hacer públicas las decisiones de MAC de Covid-19, Post
29 March 2022, UK could use vaccine donations to slash £140m from foreign aid spending, Bureau of Investigative Journalism London
10 March 2022, The HJI launches litigation for disclosure of SA’s Covid-19 vaccine contracts. Bizcommunity
8 March 2022, Moderna will never enforce Covid-19 vaccine patents in poor countries, Stat News
28 February 2022, South African Nonprofit Sues Health Ministry for Vaccine Transparency, Voice of America
22 February 2022, Interview on the HJI’s court case for disclosure of South Africa’s COVID vaccine contracts, Safm
22 February 2022, Fullview Show SABC Channel 404,
22 February 2022, Activists launch legal bid for full disclosure of SA vaccine contracts, Business Day
22 February 2022, Health Justice Initiative seeks COVID vaccine manufacture contract transparency, eNCA
22 February 2022, COVID-19 | NPO to take legal route to get more information around vaccine procurement, SABC News
17 February 2022, Why South Africa’s plans to make continent’s first COVID-19 vaccine may upend a broken global system, Toronto Star
20 February 2022, Global Covid-19 war brews as vaccine giants accused of putting profits before public health, Sunday Times
24 January 2022, Capitalism and the system of patent monopolies were the biggest challenge to the trips waiver, Conectas SUR Journal

25 December 2021, Vaccine inequity: Campaign for access in global South continues, Al Jazeera
25 December 2021, Health Justice Initiative threatens legal action over government silence on Covid-19 vaccine plans, Daily Maverick
19 December 2021, We Failed To Vaccinate The World In 2021; Will 2022 Be More Successful? COVID-19 Data Dispatch
14 December 2021, The racist rollout of COVID vaccines knocked my life down, Politiken
10 December 2021, Discussion on the next wave of vaccine apartheid, boosters, SAfm Sunrise
9 December 2021, How to End Vaccine Apartheid, Foreign Policy – Virtual Dialogue
5 December 2021, A South African Perspective on Omicron – Fareed Zakaria GPS CNN
5 December 2021, With 7% of Africa’s population fully vaccinated, the post-covid recovery seems to lag behind, Newzroom Afrika, AM Report
1 December 2021, Major mobilization for paten exemption on COVID vaccines Bistandsaktuelt,
1 December 2021, Vaccine shortages have plagued South Africa for too long, Dutch daily NRC Handelsblad
1 December 2021, Bulletin #14: A more caring world People’s Health Dispatch
30 November 2021, Vaccino, Hassan (Sudafrica): “Sospendere brevetti per sconfiggere varianti, Wto penoso”, Italian National press, Dire
30 November 2021, The inside story of the Pfizer vaccine: ‘a once-in-an-epoch windfall’, Financial Times
29 November 2021, A Masterclass on Omicron: All You Need To Know, Owen Jones Show
29 November 2021, Britain prepares for OMNICRON, Novara Media (UK)
29 November 2021, Health Justice Advocates Say Vaccine Equity, Not “Racist” Travel Bans, Will Stop the Omicron Variant, Democracy Now
28 November 2021, Omicron: Vaccine nationalism will only perpetuate the pandemic | Coronavirus pandemic |, Al Jazeera
28 November 2021, As new COVID-19 variant spreads, human rights lawyer points to ‘vaccine apartheid’, NPR
28 November 2021, Calls are growing to stop vaccine hoarding, Newzroom Afrika
21 November 2021, ‘Late is better than never’: Biden plan to boost S. production of Covid , accines gets mixed reviews, Stat News
20 November 2021, Are we facing Vaccine Apartheid and unfair IP laws?, The Big Debate
23 November 2021, Merck and Pfizer have committed to allowing Covid Pills to Be Made and Sold Cheaply in Poor Countries, Cape Talk
15 November 2021, I made it back to Canada from southern Africa just ahead of the Omicron travel No one knew what to do with me, The Star
15 November 2021, Pfizer Will Allow Its Covid Pill to Be Made and Sold Cheaply in Poor Countries, New York Times
11 November 2021, Vaccine Equity and Lessons of the HIV/AIDS Epidemic – 11 – Public Health Power Hour by Vital Strategies, Public Health Power Hour
26 October 2021, ‘A drop in the ocean’: Moderna to donate more Covid-19 shots, BioNTech to produce vaccines in Africa, Stat News
21 September 2021, South Africa remains on the United Kingdom’s red list, Newzroom Afrika
14 September 2021, Vaccine issues affecting developing and poor nations, Newzroom Afrika
10 September 2021, Pressure Is on to Redistribute Doses, Bloomberg News
3 September 2021, COVID-19 | EU to return vaccines produced in Africa, eNCA
2 September 2021, Health DG suspension imminent, Newzroom Afrika
18 August 2021, Covid Vaccines Produced in Africa Are Being Exported to Europe, Radio 702
17 August 2021, New York Times reveals Johnson and Johnson packaging and distributing vaccines in SA to Europe, Newzroon Afrika
17 August 2021, South African Activists Slam Johnson & Johnson for Exporting Vaccines, Bloomberg News
9 August 2021, WHO condemns rush by wealthy nations to give Covid vaccine booster The Gaudian
19 August 2021, South Africa slams J&J over vaccine EuroPost
19 August 2021, Facing backlash, EU says import of J&J vaccines from South Africa is Reuters
18 August 2021, Activists slam J&J for exporting vaccines produced in South Africa to Europe Africa News
18 August 2021, Activists slam Johnson & Johnson for exporting COVID-19 vaccines from Africa The Los Angeles Times
18 August 2021, COVID-19 vaccines produced in Africa by J&J were secretly exported to Europe, reports say. The Globe and Mail
17 August 2021, Health campaigners want access to govt’s vaccine procurement contract with J&J News24
17 August 2021, J&J vaccines produced in SA are being exported to Europe IOL
17 August 2021, South African activists slam J&J for exporting vaccines Associated Press
30 July 2021, COVID-19 in SA | Secrecy around vaccine production leads to vaccine hesitancy eNCA
20 July 2021, Fatima Hassan speaks to Thami Ngubeni about the progress of the SA vaccine rollout Newzroom Afrika
6 July 2021, COVID-19 Vaccine | Vaccine fairness eNCA
6 June 2021, COVID-19 Vaccine | Rollout challenges in developing countries eNCA
7 May 2021, US President Joe Biden’s administration ,announced support for a global waiver on patent protections for COVID-19 vaccines. Radio 702
6 May 2021, Fatima Hassan explains what US’s support for the waiver of IP rights for COVID-19 vaccines means Newzroom Afrika
5 May 2021, ‘We’re not vaccinating – a 3rd wave of Covid-19 infections is thus inevitable’ Cape Talk
16 May 2021, COVID-19 Vaccine | Is government geared for Phase 2?eNCA
7 May 2021, Fatima Hassan explains what US’s support for the waiver of IP rights for COVID-19 vaccines means Newzroon Afrika
7 May 2021, Unsure vaccine waiver will help, some leaders urge exports Associated Press
7 May 2021, Interview with Pierre Barbency, on the TRIPS Waiver developments in l’Humanite l’Humanite
7 May 2021, African Activists Welcome US Support of COVID Vaccine Waiver, Voice of America News
7 May 2021, Hopes surge for boosted vaccine supply after S. voices support for waiving patents, even as uncertainty remains Washington Post
6 May 2021, Ramaphosa welcomes US backing of move to suspend patents on Covid-19 vaccines Business Day
20 April 2021, Patent rights during the pandemicGerman Public Radio
14 April 2021, Global Vaccine Inequality: On the verge of a “catastrophic moral failure” Makroskop
29 March 2021, Should corporates be allowed to procure covid vaccines? SAfm
28 March 2021, Vaccine round table: Ray White discusses South Africa vaccine roll out Eye Wintness News (EWN)
26 March 2021, COVID and the Right to Health The Promise Institute for Human Rights at UCLA School of Law
24 March 2021, Academics & Activists Urge NIH to Use Government-Owned Patents to Increase Vaccine Access Prep4All
11 March 2021, S. & Other Wealthy Nations Block Effort to Waive Vaccine Patent Rights in Blow to Global South Democracy Now
4 March 2021, Equitable C19 procurement and the private sector Iono fm
25 February 2021, Patents and Profits: An Obstacle to Equitable Vaccine Access? ICJ
20 February 2021, South Africa’s Covid response Radio New Zealand
8 February 2021, With AstraZeneca’s vaccine on a temporary hold, what now for SA’s Healthcare workers? Newzroon Afrika
6 February 2021, The next Covid crisis: a vaccine apartheid endangering us all: The West bought billions of vaccines fast and cheap, leaving poorer nations paying through the nose for years to The Bureau of Investigative Journalism
3 February 2021, Canada the only G7 country to take vaccines from fund that helps developing countries The Globe and Mail
2 February 2021, The scarcity and expense of Covid-19 vaccines New Frame
31 January 2021, As Virus Variants Spread, ‘No One Is Safe Until Everyone Is Safe’ New York Times
20 January 2021, A Pandemic Defined By Failures: Who Can Hold Nations Accountable? Forbes
20 January 2021, ‘Lower-income countries fall behind in race for vaccines – Dose shortages risk prolonging pandemic for years, experts warn Financial Times
15 January 2021, Power Perspective Covid-19 Roundtable Power Radio
12 January 2021 The Health Justice Initiative concerned about the communication on acquiring and rolling out the COVID-19 vaccine SAfm
11 January 2021, Concerns about communication on the acquisition and rollout of a COVID-19 vaccine in SA Newzroom Afrika
10 January 2021, Ensuring Covid-19 Vaccine Reaches Everyone – Part 1 eNCA
8 January 2021, Covid-19 vaccine tax? ‘Govt needs to tell the nation what the funding model is’ Cape Talk
8 January 2021, The Pandemic of Global Inequality Tribune Magazine
6 January 2021, A cancelled meeting, delays and secrecy: Inside SA’s efforts to procure Covid-19 vaccine doses News24
5 January 2021, How to battle vaccine misinformation in South Africa Daily Maverick
4 January 2021, Can SA ‘ignore’ Covid-19 vaccine patents to save lives? Radio 702
1 January 2021, The great Covid-19 Vaccine Heist Newzroom Afrika

31 December 2020, Fatima Hassan discusses the importance of equitable distribution of vaccines to poorer country Newzroom Afrika
21 December 2020, Conversation with SalaaMedia on Vaccine Nationalism in a pandemic Salaa Media
3 December 2020, Health Justice Initiative wants details of state’s plan to get Covid-19 vaccine to SA Cape Talk
31 December 2020, The importance of equitable distribution of vaccines to poorer countries – this is as concerns grow that South Africa has fallen behind Newzroom Afrika
31 December 2020, The Health Justice Initiative is calling for clarity on government’s plan for the Covid-19 vaccine. This includes its equitable allocation and policy approach. eNCA
28 December 2020, For covid-19 vaccines, some are too rich — and too poor New York Times
21 December 2020, Health Justice Initiative threatens legal action over government silence on Covid-19 vaccine plans Daily Maverick
19 December 2020, Vaccines, patents…: “What’s the point of innovation if people can’t benefit from it?” L’HUMANITÉ
1 December 2020, Health Justice Initiative wants details of state’s plan to get Covid-19 vaccine to SA Daily Maverick
2 September 2020, Activists warn government against pandemic profiteering by pharmaceutical companies Newzroom Afrika
20 August 2020, A soldier in the war on HIV/Aids now battles Covid-19 Health-e-News
15 August 2020, Big Pharma is already showing signs of putting revenue ahead of saving lives in the race to find a Covid-19 vaccine, according to experts Mail and Gaudian
15 August 2020SATURDAY PROFILE | Fatima Hassan: SA going same route with Covid-19 as with AIDS if we’re not careful News24
31 July 2020, Accessing health and justice in a time of Covid-19 Mail and Gaudian
8 July 2020, A Covid-19 vaccine: When ‘solidarity’ meets nationalist profiteering – We are putting too much faith in an industry that has not fully supported equitable access to life-saving treatment before Daily Maverick
8 July 2020, Heath Justice Initiative calls for lessons of the early 2000 to guide COVID-19 Newzroom Afrika

Opinion Pieces and Academic Articles

2024

7 November 2024 – How South Africa can help secure immediate, global access to HIV prevention drug lenacapavir. Daily Maverick
Authors: Tian Johnson, Fatima Hassan, Asia Russell and Sangeeta Shashikant
8 November 2024 – Gilead under fire over HIV drug licensing. The Lancet
Author: Ed Holt
22 October 2024 – NHI Act offers no answer to high medicine prices. news24
Author: Fatima Hassan
11 October 2024 – NHI Act offers no answer to high medicines prices. Spotlight
Author: Fatima Hassan
2 April 2024 – The global health community must call for an immediate ceasefire and unrestricted humanitarian aid in Gaza. BMJ
Authors: Shuaib Manjra, Fatima Hassan, Leslie London
1 March 2024 – Israel’s war on Gaza is a health justice issue, too. Al Jazeera
Author: Fatima Hassan
14 February – Israel’s unrelenting war on Gaza healthcare requires urgent action. Al Jazeera
Authors: Fatima Hassan, Shuaib Manjra, Leslie London

25 July 2023 – It is our right to see the Covid-19 vaccine procurement contracts. News24
Authors: Fatima Hassan and Archbishop Thabo Makgoba
13 June 2023 – We are unlikely to be equitably able to access lifesaving, affordable medicines under NHI. Daily Maverick
Author: Fatima Hassan
5 June 2023 – Opportunities and challenges of leveraging COVID-19 vaccine innovation and technologies for developing sustainable vaccine manufacturing capabilities in Africa. The Lancet
Authors: Bavesh D Kana, Patrick Arbuthnot, Benjamin K Botwe, Yahya E Choonara, Fatima Hassan, Hechmi Louzir, et al.
25 March 2023 – It is time for ambitious, transformational change to the epidemic countermeasures ecosystem. The Lancet
Authors: Els Torreele, Christine McNab, Olusoji Adeyi, Roxana Bonnell, Mandeep Dhaliwal, Fatima Hassan et al.
6 March 2023 – Open Letter – Collective Voices against Health Xenophobia’s appeal to the health minister. Daily Maverick
Author: Marlise Richter
27 January 2023 – Changing the law on sex work will save lives, we must see it through Author(s): Marlise Richter and Pamela Chakuvinga. Access the document here.

24 August 2022 – Sex work is essential(ly) work” – Feminist sex worker rights advocacy in South AfricaAuthor(s): Marlise Richter in conversation with Clara Singende & Ishtar Lakhani
1 July 2022 – Op-ed; Vaccine Equity: A New and Weak WTO Deal on TRIPS is Not Fit for Purpose
18 June 2022 – Opinion: New WTO deal is a slap in the face for poorer countries. Authors: Yousuf Vawda, Fatima Hassan and Tian Johnson
15 June 2022 – South Africa must say no to rich nations and WTO bullying in Geneva. Authors: Yousuf Vawda, Fatima Hassan and Tian Johnson
23 May 2022 – Vaccine Apartheid is racist and wrong. Author: Fatima Hassan
8 April 2022 – The leaked WTO COVID patent waiver text promises a very bad deal – South Africa owes it to the nations that supported its initial waiver proposal to reject the text and continue negotiations. Authors: Fatima Hassan, Leslie London and Yousuf Vawda
30 March 2022 – What is the use of anti-HIV injections when those who need it most can’t use it? Authors: Francois Venter, Fatima Hassan and Yogan Pillay
24 March 2022 – It is not too late to achieve global covid-19 vaccine equity. Authors: Gavin Yamey, Patricia Garcia, Fatima Hassan, Wenhui Mao, Kaci Kennedy McDade, Madhukar Pai, Senjuti Saha, Philip Schellekens, Andrea Taylor, Krishna Udayakumar
28 February 2022 – South Africans have a right to see the country’s vaccine contracts and to know what they contain. Author: Fatima Hassan
17 February 2022 – When secrecy and expert advice collide in a pandemic: Access to information and the National Department of Health’s tardy publication of Ministerial Advisory Committee advisories. Authors: M Richter, Y Nokhepheyi, F Hassan

13 December 2021 – Unequal global vaccine coverage is at the heart of the current covid-19 crisis. Authors: Fatima Hassan, Leslie London and Greg Gonsalves
3 December 2021 – Time to tackle Covid vaccine inequality in global south. Authors: Fatima Hassan and Nick Dearden
28 November 2021 – Omicron: Vaccine nationalism will only perpetuate the pandemic. Author: Fatima Hassan
28 November 2021 – Omicron: Vaccine nationalism will only perpetuate the pandemic | Coronavirus pandemic. Author: Fatima Hassan
22 October 2021 – ANALYSIS | The pandemic didn’t miss Africa — and the numbers back this up. Authors: Tian Johnson, Tom Moultrie, Gregg Gonsalves, and Fatima Hassan.
21 October 2021 – A confusing COVID caseload: Why Africa’s missing numbers show a different side to the pandemic. Authors: Tian Johnson, Tom Moultrie, Gregg Gonsalves and Fatima Hassan
21 October 2021 – Share Vaccine Know How. Authors: Priti Krishtel and Fatima Hassan
21 October 2021 – African lives matter: Covid-19 didn’t miss the continent, as some would conveniently have it — and the numbers back this up. Authors: Tian Johnson, Tom Moultrie, Gregg Gonsalves and Fatima Hassan
12 October 2021 – An inconvenient truth: The real reason why Africa is not getting vaccinated. Authors: Tian Johnson, Tom Moultrie, Gregg Gonsalves and Fatima Hassan
5 October 2021 – Sex Worker Pride is a way of sex workers showing that they, too, take pride in their work. Author: Marlise Richter
27 August 2021 – OP-ED: Leave No One Behind: We must urgently address vaccination of undocumented migrants and asylum seekers. Authors: Jo Vearey, Sally Gandar, Rebecca Walker, Thea de Gruchy, Fatima Hassan, Tlaleng Mofokeng, Pinky Mahlangu, Nicholas Maple, Francois Venter and Sharon Ekambaram
16 August 2021 – Profiteering from vaccine inequity: a crime against humanity? Authors: Fatima Hassan, Gavin Yamey, Kamran Abbasi
21 July 2021 – Leave No One Behind: We must urgently address vaccination of undocumented migrants and asylum seekers. Authors: Jo Vearey, Sally Gandar, Rebecca Walker, Thea de Gruchy, Fatima Hassan, Tlaleng Mofokeng, Pinky Mahlangu, Nicholas Maple, Francois Venter and Sharon Ekambaram
28 June 2021 – The great vaccine heist: The procurement contracts veil of secrecy violates transparency and public interest. Author: Fatima Hassan
18 May 2021 –Finding an HIV vaccine: Five lessons from the search for a COVID jab. Authors: Mitchell Warren and Fatima Hassan
12 May 2021 – The TRIPS fandango: Don’t water down the waiver – lives depend on it. Authors: Fatima Hassan, Rafia Akram and Gregg Gonsalves
11 May 2021 – Private-public politics: State control crucial for vaccine equity and to stop queue-jumping by the rich. Authors: Fatima Hassan and Marlise Richter
23 February 2021 – Don’t Let Drug Companies create a system of Vaccine Apartheid. Author: Fatima Hassan
24 January 2021 – The great Covid-19 Vaccine Heist (Part Two): Moderna – when solidarity is only a word. Author: Fatima Hassan
21 January 2021 – Op-Ed in Le Monde: Against Covid-19, we must ensure access to vaccines in Africa. Authors: Stéphane Besançon, Pauline Londeix & Jérôme Martin, Alioune Tine, Fatima Hassan, Els Torreele, Thomas Piketty, Cynthia Fleury, Emmanuel Bonnet & Valéry Ridde, Nathalie Ernoult, Andrew Hill

6 September 2020 – Politics, power and patents: ‘Desperate diseases require desperate measures’ Author: Fatima Hassan
8 July 2020 – A Covid-19 vaccine: When ‘solidarity’ meets nationalist profiteering Authors: Fatima Hassan and Els Torreele
15 May 2020 – Auditor-General should oversee billions in the Covid-19 Solidarity Fund. Author: Fatima Hassan

Podcast Interviews

2023

18 January 2023 – HPSIG Podcast: The Health of Sex Workers in South Africa PsySSA –Marlise Richter

13 July 2022 – Shady COVID Deal: WTO’s Midnight Scandal. Speaker/s: Rethinking Trade with Lori Wallach, Fatima Hassan
1 May 2022 – Episode 10: Vaccine Inequity in the Global South. ISID, Fatima Hassan
29 April 2022 – Drugs, COVID, the WTO and a Leaked Text. Rethinking Trade with Lori Wallach, Fatima Hassan
19 April 2022 – TRIPs & South Africa. GC Public Health – Guilford College, Fatima Hassan
12 April 2022 – Championing health equity in South Africa– Episode 12. Global Health Matters (GHM) podcast, Fatima Hassan

8 December 2021 – Vaccine Apartheid with Fatima Hassan. Yale University – Tech Empire with Michael Kwet and Tshi Malatji, Fatima Hassan
30 November 2021 – #Omicron – Vaccine nationalism will only perpetuate the pandemic. Radio Islam International, Fatima Hassan
29 November 2021 – Britain Prepares For Omicron. TyskySour, Fatima Hassan
29 November 2021 – A Masterclass on Omicron: All You Need To Know. The Owen Jones Podcast, Fatima Hassan
28 November 2021 – As new COVID-19 variant spreads, human rights lawyer points to ‘vaccine apartheid. NPR, Fatima Hassan
11 November 2021 – Vaccine Equity and Lessons of the HIV/AIDS Epidemic. Vital Strategies – Public Health Power Hour, Fatima Hassan
10 June 2021 – The People’s Vaccine with Fatima Hassan, Katie Gallogly-Swan and Josephine Varghese. New Zealand Alternative: Te Kuaka, Fatima Hassan
26 May 2021 – The Campaign for HIV-AIDS medicines: Achal Prabhala, Anand Grover, David Legge, Ellen t’Hoen, Fatima Hassan, James Love, and Leigh Haynes. The Nagrik Podcast, Fatima Hassan
26 March 2021 – COVID and the Right to Health. The Promise Institute for Human Rights at UCLA School of Law, Marlise Richter
24 March 2021, is “A short history of…” – UNAIDS Podcast Project, Fatima Hassan
24 May 2021 – S1E77: Vaccination Verification: Ticket to Ride or Social Divide? Epidemic – Dr Celine Gounder, Fatima Hassan
5 March 2021 – S4 Episode 7: Vaccine apartheid | Solidarity | Harari. Radio New Frame – hosted by: Tebadi Mmotla, Fatima Hassan
3 March 2021, Covid and the right to health The Promise Institute, UCLA, Marlise Richter
20 February 2021 – South Africa’s Covid response: Fatima Hassan. RZN – Saturday Morning, Fatima Hassan
4 January 2021 – Can SA ‘ignore’ Covid-19 vaccine patents to save lives? Cape Talk – Refilwe Moloto, Fatima Hassan
4 January 2021 – To Vaccinate the World We Need Tech Transfer, Not Charity (DAWN Podcast Episode 5) DAWN and TWN , KM Gopakumar and Marlise Richter
17 October 2022, TheConversation – “A bargain basement strategy to keep ‘cheap women’ safe from gender-based violence and murder” Daily Maverick, M Richter & N.Remba
25 March 2021, “Why South Africa’s HIV prevention programmes should include sex worker clients”. M. Huysamen & Richter

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