WHO Takes Step Toward Policy Of Engagement With Lobbyists, Foundations

The World Health Organization today (24 May) adopted a one-year plan to come up with a policy on engagement with “non-state actors” – industry, nongovernmental groups, foundations and academics.

Also passed today was a summary report of the group overseeing WHO’s pandemic influenza preparedness framework sharing of flu viruses and access to vaccines and other benefits. An Intellectual Property Watch story on the pandemic outcome will follow soon.

The non-state actors issue was one of the features of the 67^th World Health Assembly, which met from 19-24 May.

The latest available version of the non-state actor decision document was A67/A/CONF./5 Rev.1 [pdf].

Proponents of a proposed framework of engagement with non-state actors pushed to resolve the policy at this year’s Assembly, but others slowed the process down to give more time to what is viewed as an important process for the UN agency which is undergoing a dramatic change. Proponents were seen as including some developed countries and the secretariat, while some developing countries resisted.

After having faced financial difficulties several years ago, WHO has been taking increased funding from non-governmental sources such as private foundations, is undergoing internal reforms, and has a robust new policy agenda.

For instance, it was announced during the week that the result of a Chatham House analysis showed that the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation surpassed the United States government as the top WHO funder in 2013. Melinda Gates was one of two invited speakers at this year’s Assembly. She used the opportunity to pitch for a new WHO strategy on newborn children.

Some members repeatedly raised concerns about ensuring there will be no conflicts of interest at the member state-driven organisation.

Year Ahead

Member states at this Assembly were asked to approve the new framework of engagement, but ended up agreeing on a plan to work on it further over the next year until the 68^th WHA in May 2015.

The agreed decision, concluded under the hands-on involvement of WHO Director General Margaret Chan, was mostly drawn up in a closed drafting group during the week, and fine-tuned in committee under the watchful eye of numerous “non-state actors”.

It sets out a plan to take on board member state comments from this week, plus any other comments or questions submitted by 17 June, as well as secretariat answers, resulting in a report by end of July.

The report will then be discussed at the meetings of the six WHO regional groups from early September to late October, who will report to the January WHO Executive Board. Ultimately, the secretariat will submit a paper to the January Executive Board, first ensuring it is sent to member states by mid-December.

When the issue came up for final approval today, Ecuador, backed by a long line of countries, asked for a couple of small amendments to clarify this procedure. After challenges by the United States and Australia, the secretariat ruled that the amendments made no substantive change to the meaning of the text, and they were allowed.

The final text was not available at press time, but the Ecuador amendment essentially added the word “comments” to the “questions” in item 1 of the text, and reworked the wording of item 2 to state that the secretariat report would reflect “members’” (rather than the “Health Assembly’s”) comments during this Assembly, and questions and comments (not just questions) raised by 17 June.

Chan urged member states to send any important points in writing, even if they made them during the Assembly.