World Health Assembly: IP Considerations Play Key Role In Final Outcomes28/05/2013 by Rachel Marusak Hermann for Intellectual Property Watch and Brittany Ngo for Intellectual Property Watch 1 CommentWrapping up one day early, the 66th World Health Assembly adopted a range of public health resolutions and decisions, some with key intellectual property implications, including a decision to convene a technical meeting on new public health R&D projects, a compromise on advancing the poor quality medicines mechanism, and resolutions on both neglected tropical diseases and noncommunicable diseases. Importantly, the novel coronavirus situation drew attention to WHO’s progress in pandemic influenza preparedness.
World Health Assembly: As Members Approve Health R&D Decisions, US Says Time To “Put Our Money Where Our Mouth Is”27/05/2013 by Rachel Marusak Hermann for Intellectual Property Watch 3 CommentsHeading into the 66th World Health Assembly, the prospect of a global treaty to address the health needs of developing countries seemed unlikely and years away at best. In a surprising turn in this highly political conversation, the US challenged member states to prove that it could work. That process will start sooner rather than later as members gavelled the resolution and agreed to convene a meeting on health R&D demonstration projects in the next few months.
World Health Assembly: Committee Breaks Deadlock On Poor Quality Meds Mechanism26/05/2013 by Rachel Marusak Hermann for Intellectual Property Watch 3 CommentsBreaking six months of deadlock, WHA members reached a compromise in committee on the issue of which country should preside over the global mechanism on poor quality medicines by supporting Brazil’s proposal to rotate the steering committee chairmanship. The Assembly will likely approve the decision.
World Health Assembly: Drafting Group Agrees On Health R&D Meeting Proposal25/05/2013 by Rachel Marusak Hermann for Intellectual Property Watch 1 CommentAn informal drafting group finalised a text today, proposing to convene a technical meeting to help identify new health research and development projects for diseases that primarily affect poor communities.
World Health Assembly: Members Debate US Proposed Advisory Meeting On Health R&D24/05/2013 by Rachel Marusak Hermann for Intellectual Property Watch 1 CommentTaking the World Health Assembly by surprise, the US delegation today made a proposal to advance progress on the monitoring, coordination, and financing of health R&D in committee discussions today. Their suggestion to convene an advisory meeting is being discussed in an informal drafting group in a side room. The committee has adjourned until Monday, but the drafting group will continue over the weekend.
World Health Assembly: R&D, NCDs, Pandemics Top Agenda17/05/2013 by Rachel Marusak Hermann for Intellectual Property Watch 2 CommentsWith just days before the UN World Health Assembly opens, member states once again face a packed agenda with key decisions to be taken on some highly-politicised public health and intellectual property matters, including how to move forward on the research and development draft resolution. The spotlight will also be on pandemic influenza preparedness, a resolution of size on noncommunicable diseases, the health-related Millennium Development Goals, and putting some reform decisions into practice.
WHO Stats Show Medicines Remain Out Of Reach Of Poorest Patients15/05/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 CommentWhile the World Health Organization’s latest health numbers show that great progress has been made in improving the health in low-income countries, significant inequalities remain between people living in the richest and poorest countries. Access to even the most basic medicines continues to be a major challenge due to high prices.
Curbing Vaccine Costs Key To Extending Global Immunisation Reach22/04/2013 by Rachel Marusak Hermann for Intellectual Property Watch 1 CommentAs the World Health Organization kicks off a week devoted to the promotion of vaccines, newly published research has identified challenges, such as weak supply systems and information gaps, that need to be addressed to scale-up global vaccine coverage. But some observers say that more attention should be paid to the soaring costs of vaccines, starting with a mechanism to track prices.
Health Research Colloquium Calls On Countries To Invest More In R&D09/04/2013 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 CommentDuring the recent Council on Health Research for Development (COHRED) Colloquium 2013, participants highlighted the value of research and development in supporting public health and the importance of building self-reliance for countries through government investment, according to organisers. Some of the themes discussed during the event will be included in a report on public health policy, which will be published in The Lancet later this year.
North American Universities Seen Failing To Promote Socially Responsible Licensing05/04/2013 by Rachel Marusak Hermann for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a CommentA student group is holding top research universities in the US and Canada accountable for how much they are – or are not – contributing to global public health. According to a recently released report by Universities Allied for Essential Medicines, a non-profit organisation, most institutions are falling short when it comes to investing in neglected diseases and promoting access to medicines.
