Review Of WHO Public Health And IP Strategy: Help Needed On TRIPS Flexibilities 28/05/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment International organisations, in particular the World Health Organization, should help poor countries implement the flexibilities enshrined in international trade rules, a number of developing countries said at the World Health Assembly on 26 May. WHO members in committee hailed and noted a report on the organisation’s strategy on public health, innovation and intellectual property, the first part of an overall review. Civil society had another take on the report, and deplored slow progress on access to medicines.
World Health Assembly Adopts Resolution To Fight Sepsis; Antimicrobial Resistance Major Threat 26/05/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Antimicrobial resistance is a growing health concern as was acknowledged by countries at the World Health Assembly this week, and a resolution was adopted to fight sepsis, which is a life-threatening blood stream infection for which there is growing resistance.
Decision On Pandemic Flu Framework At WHA: Look Closer At Changes 26/05/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments A committee at the World Health Assembly yesterday decided to seek a closer look at consequences of potential changes to the WHO framework on pandemic influenza. The decision, still to be confirmed by the World Health Assembly, requires in-depth analysis of how to handle pandemic flu viruses under the framework, whether the framework should cover seasonal influenza, and whether the framework should become a specialised international instrument on access and benefit-sharing.
New World Bank Report: World Unprepared To Face Next Inevitable Pandemic 25/05/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A new report released today by the World Bank shows that the world is not quite prepared to face the next pandemic. As for many other issues, money, or rather the lack of it, is at the heart of the problem, according to the report, which provides 12 recommendations to tackle the issue at the country level.
Antimicrobial Resistance: PPPs The Way Forward, Speakers Say 25/05/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment With global funding for research and development decreasing, and the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance, ways to incentivise research are seen as key to solving the problem. Speakers at a side event to the World Health Assembly this week presented models of public and private partnerships to address the issue.
New Draft Decision Seeks To Deepen Analysis On WHO Pandemic Flu Framework 24/05/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A new draft decision submitted this week at the World Health Assembly (WHA) by a group of countries would set out further actions to analyse the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework.
Antimicrobial Resistance Needs New R&D Models, NGOs Say 24/05/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A group of non-governmental organisations organised a side event to the World Health Assembly to discuss the growing issue of antimicrobial resistance, the way to incentivise research and development for new antibiotics, and the imperative of affordability and accessibility of new products. The speakers mentioned alternative models, such as delinking the cost of research from the price of the medicines, underlined the high prices of vaccines, and the importance of systems of infection prevention and control.
Chan’s Last Speech To WHA Opening: Affordable Medicines, Innovation, Listen To Civil Society, Partner With Industry 22/05/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment In her final opening speech to the annual World Health Assembly, Director General Margaret Chan today underlined progress made and left to make, and highlighted access to medicines as the most contentious issue of her decade of service. She stressed the importance of innovation, and investment in health, acknowledged the necessity of partners such as the private sector and civil society, and encouraged scientific evidence in decision making. And she focussed strongly on global security and health emergencies.
Taiwan Lobbies For Invitation To World Health Assembly, China Firmly Bars The Way 22/05/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Taiwan will not be allowed to participate in the World Health Assembly (WHA) this year as an observer, the WHA has decided on its opening day. Some hours earlier today, Taiwan’s minister of health gave a press conference to denounce the fact that the country has not been invited by the World Health Organization, and saying that Taiwan needs the WHO, and the WHO needs Taiwan.
WIPO Committee On Development Outcome Hailed As Most Positive In Years 20/05/2017 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment After years of mostly discontented discussions at the World Intellectual Property Organization committee on IP and development, last week proved positive, with a 10 year political knot solved, an international conference, and a new project approved, as well as a number of recommendations to implement the 2007 WIPO Development Agenda.