NCDs As Global Policy Concern: WHO Approves Plan To Tackle Scourge 26/05/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) stands high on the agenda of World Health Organization member countries, many of them said last week. Governments called for a multi-stakeholder approach to tackle the problem, governed by firm rules, and some asked for ways to regulate products that increase risk factors.
WHO To Develop Global Action Plan Against Antibiotic Resistance 26/05/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Faced with growing global concern over microbial resistance to antibiotic treatments, the World Health Assembly last week adopted a resolution to establish a global action plan on antimicrobial resistance.
WIPO Committee On Development Has To Settle Again For Meagre Results 26/05/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The World Intellectual Property Organization committee on development closed last week with little to show after a week of unyielding opposing positions on every sensitive issue by several countries. Frustration was palpable as those issues were sent to the next session for further discussions, with the risk of renewed disagreement.
Crisis At WIPO Over Development Agenda; Overall Objectives In Question 24/05/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The World Intellectual Property Organization Committee on Development and Intellectual Property finished a weeklong meeting yesterday having not achieved the week’s goals and with harsh words from delegates calling into question the very functioning of the organisation. At the heart of the dissent is WIPO Development Agenda and its implementation in the United Nations agency.
WHO Members Note Reform Progress, Ask For Speedy Implementation 23/05/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment World Health Organization members this week examined progress made in the ongoing reform of the UN agency. Members speaking in committee made firm requests for speedy implementation of reforms, and commended WHO’s efforts toward financial sustainability, with some cautions.
No Agreement On Management Of WHO Relationship With External Actors 22/05/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments After several drafting sessions this week meant to finalise a framework to govern the engagement of the World Health Organization with the private sector, nongovernmental organisations, foundations and academics, country delegates admitted defeat today at the World Health Assembly.
Vaccines At WHA: Immunization Concerns, High Prices For Middle-Income Countries 22/05/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments Immunization coverage in many developing countries remains low and even shows a decrease in some cases, according to the report of a World Health Organization advisory group of experts, to be noted by this week’s World Health Assembly. A number of developing countries yesterday underlined the high cost of new vaccines and asked that the WHO help them campaign for lower prices.
Role Of Industry, NGOs, Foundations At WHO Under Intense Debate 21/05/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A proposal to increase the engagement of “non-state actors” – industry, nongovernmental organisations, foundations and academics – in the activities of the World Health Organization is under intense debate at the annual World Health Assembly this week.
Committee On WIPO Standards Stumbles Over Development Agenda 20/05/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The World Intellectual Property Organization technical committee working on standards to facilitate work of intellectual property offices and their communication had to adjourn its fourth session last week for lack of agreement on the committee’s relationship to the 2007 Development Agenda of the organisation.
Independent Review Of WIPO Development Up For Debate 20/05/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization Committee on Development and Intellectual Property opened this week with a loaded agenda and some politically-charged issues. One of them is an independent assessment of the mandated mainstreaming of a development dimension into the activities of the UN organisation.