WHO Pandemic Influenza Advisory Group Meeting In Secret This Week

The World Health Organization pandemic influenza framework advisory group is meeting this week, behind closed doors. A consultation is expected to take place on 20 October with stakeholders, and an information session has been organised on 21 October on the work of the advisory group, but no press is allowed in either meeting nor able to obtain any information about any aspect of the week’s events.

Efforts by Intellectual Property Watch to obtain information about the meeting were not answered. However, the Advisory Group is expected to be discussing the possibility of expanding its interactions, including with media, the PIP secretariat told Intellectual Property Watch.

The Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Framework (PIP Framework) Advisory Group is meeting from 18-21 October in Geneva. The Advisory Group monitors the implementation of the PIP Framework and provides recommendations.

Separately, there is an ongoing review of the framework by a Review Group, which is expected to deliver its results by the end of October (IPW, WHO, 6 July 2016) to the WHO director general. The report is scheduled to be presented to the next meeting of the WHO Executive Board from 23 January to 1 February, and later to the May 2017 World Health Assembly.

The agenda of this week’s Advisory Board meeting has not been shared by the WHO PIP Secretariat. The Advisory Group is in particular tasked with providing WHO Director General with advice on the use of the Partnership Contribution.

The Partnership Contribution is “one element of the PIP Benefit Sharing System. It is an annual cash contribution to WHO by influenza vaccine, diagnostic and pharmaceutical manufacturers who use the WHO Global Influenza Surveillance and Response System (GISRS),” according to the WHO.

According to sources, industry and other stakeholders are invited to participate in consultations with the Advisory Group on 20 October. On 21 October, the Advisory Group has scheduled an information session for industry and other stakeholders about the outcomes of the work of the Advisory Group.