Latest Chair’s Draft Issued On Future Of WHO And IP, Innovation 20/05/2010 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The latest draft is now available from the Swiss chair overseeing a small side group at the World Health Assembly trying to work out how to take forward a landmark initiative within the UN agency on innovation and intellectual property rights. It shows that countries negotiating the WHO’s next step on the sensitive topic are leaning toward establishment of a new group with more government involvement this time.
New Draft Resolution On Counterfeits At WHO 20/05/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch and William New Leave a Comment A new conference paper has been submitted to the World Health Assembly committee addressing the World Health Organization work on counterfeit and substandard medicines. It offers a way forward on this week’s most controversial issue by involving governments directly in the activities through an intergovernmental working group.
WHO’s Precious Matsoso On Public Health, Innovation And Intellectual Property 20/05/2010 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The annual World Health Assembly is considering how to take forward a 2008 landmark decision at the World Health Organization that approved a new Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property. Precious Matsoso, the current director of the WHO programme, spoke to Intellectual Property Watch in April about the ongoing implementation of the strategy, and what is needed to keep momentum going.
WHO: No Evidence Of Misleading On Counterfeit Medicines 20/05/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments There is no evidence that the work of the World Health Organization has been misled or misled its members on the issue of fake or dangerous drugs, representatives of the UN organisation told journalists today. Nor is the WHO yet ready to drop use of the term ‘counterfeit’ to describe such medicines despite generic producing nations complaints about possible confusion over the term.
Debate Erupts Over WHO Police Work Against “Counterfeit” Drugs Trade 20/05/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 6 Comments A battle broke out yesterday at the World Health Organization over whether it should continue its relationship with an in-house anti-counterfeiting law enforcement and customs group, and what that decision might mean for the role of the organisation in the fight against fake medicines.
Proposals At WHO Would Boost Drug Safety, Replace Anti-Counterfeiting Taskforce 18/05/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Discussion at the annual World Health Assembly on counterfeit medicines may prove lively as stakeholders continue to raise concerns that the term “counterfeit” will confuse protecting patients from unsafe drugs with protecting trademarks from infringement. And an industry-led event in the lead-up to the WHA said counterfeit medicines pose great risks and will require a coordinated international response.
Advocates Back WHO Resolution On Chagas With Access To Diagnosis, Treatment 18/05/2010 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Two groups this week are urging the World Health Assembly to address access to diagnosis, treatment and new drugs, for a tropical disease that is the leading parasitic killer in the Americas. At a side event on the first day of the assembly, civil society actors also expressed concern about the shrinking input of civil society in the annual WHO members’ meeting.
Developing Countries Blast WHO Report On IP, Demand “Credible” Approach 18/05/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch and William New 5 Comments A critical report on financing research and development of medicines for the world’s poorest was created without transparency, failed to live up to its mandate, and did not address the potential threat that intellectual property rights can pose to access to drugs, developing countries said today at the World Health Assembly. A proposal by a group of Latin American countries for a new intergovernmental working group was not accepted by developed countries and others and quick informal consultations began to work out differences before the end of the assembly this week.
Chan Urges Innovation, Defends WHO Flu Response As New Group Approved 18/05/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment World Health Organization Director General Margaret Chan opened the annual World Health Assembly today with a welcome of the transparency in the “most closely watched pandemic in history,” and how the drive to meet the UN Millennium Development Goals would unleash a “host of innovations for improving health, especially among the poorest,” adding a call for vaccines as one of the “best life-saving buys on offer.”
EU Previews Digital Agenda To 2020 17/05/2010 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The European Union today said half of its productivity gains since 1995 have come from information and communications technology (ICT), and gave some signals about its digital agenda to the year 2020, as part of a broader plan to be “launched shortly.” Europe remains the world’s biggest broadband market, the EU said, but must improve. […]