Newsletter July 2025

How can the Netherlands increase transparency in the pharmaceutical sector?

To answer this question, we organized a meeting in The Hague with relevant experts, academics, policymakers from ministries and members of parliament (MPs) and their staff. We reflected, among other things, on the steps that other countries have taken to increase transparency – as documented in our recent joint report with Health Action International. Daniëlle Jansen, then MP for the New Social Contract party and now demissionary Minister of Health, participated online. Read more ➔

Op-ed: Dutch government should promote transparency in the pharmaceutical sector

In an opinion article for Dutch newspaper Trouw, Ella Weggen from Wemos urges the government to promote transparency in the pharmaceutical sector. This is in response to the report from the citizens’ platform on expensive medicines, which speaks out against excessive prices of new medicines and calls for action from the government. If pharmaceutical companies disclose the development and production costs of medicines, the government can calculate a fair price, including a fair profit margin. Read the article (Dutch) ➔

How universities can enhance affordability of medicines

Medical innovations are often done at publicly funded universities. When universities sell their innovations to commercial parties, they can enhance affordability and availability of end products (like medicines) by using socially responsible licensing (SRL) when they grant licenses. In a meeting organized by the Dutch Ministry of Health, we discussed the existing SRL toolkit and practical ways to implement it. Read more ➔

Make Way for Youth podcast: Zambia impact stories

In this new episode, we are joined by two young trailblazers from Zambia: Thelma Malambo, who is an independent feminist and SRHR activist, and Mwenya Yambayamba, who is a facilitator at Barefeet Theatre. They share the challenges that young people face in Zambia while seeking sexual and reproductive health and rights and the role that the Make Way programme has played to help overcome these barriers. Listen to this episode on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Wemos at the 4^th Finance for Development Conference (FfD4)

Last week, director Mariëlle Bemelmans and global health expert Barbara Fienieg participated in the 4th Finance for Development Conference (FfD4) in Seville. It was an excellent opportunity for them to share our perspectives on, among others, the importance of public financing for health for closing the inequality gap, with EU parliamentarians, institutions and country delegates. Read more ➔

Placing youth at the heart of SRHR issues at the RHNK Conference

From 24-27 June, the 8th Reproductive Health Network Kenya (RHNK) Adolescents and Youth Conference took place in Mombasa, Kenya. Make Way youth representatives Elizabeth Warindi and Vilda Atieno attended the conference and shared their main takeaways. "Representation matters: it is important to have young people in the room when having conversations about access to reproductive health." Read more ➔

Wemos tips and picks

In the eight-part drama series Elixer, Isabelle Rombauts is unexpectedly appointed CEO of the family company Rombauts Pharma, a major player in the international pharmaceutical market. She soon faces the consequences of serious mismanagement by her father and brother. And she faces a devilish dilemma: should she follow her own conscience or the interests of her family? Watch it on NPO (Dutch).