WIPO Launches Strategic Plan 2017-2021 For Re:Search Program 25/05/2017 by Elise De Geyter for Intellectual Property Watch and William New Leave a Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization this week has striven to show its commitment to contributing to the debate on intellectual property and health, and the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, through advancement of its Re:Search program for the next five years.
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.
WHO Launches Public Consultation On Blueprint Material Transfer Agreement 25/05/2017 by Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Health Organization has launched a public consultation on the Draft Research and Development Blueprint Material Transfer Agreement tool text.
Expanding Access To Medicines: What Role For Transparency? 25/05/2017 by Mara Pillinger for Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Transparency” and “accountability” are familiar buzzwords. Like salt and pepper, they pop up on nearly every list of ingredients for sound policy and good governance. But, as Ilona Kickbusch and Suerie Moon of the Graduate Institute Global Health Centre in Geneva point out, their details are rarely specified: transparency for what? Accountability to whom? On Tuesday afternoon, those not busy casting a vote for the next World Health Organization director general got the chance to dig into these questions at a panel co-sponsored by the Graduate Institute and FIND. In particular, discussion focused on transparency in terms of public access to two types of information: drug R&D costs and clinical trial data.
WIPO Development And IP Committee Approves, Extends Projects Kicking Off New Era 25/05/2017 by Elise De Geyter for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Intellectual Property Organization Committee on Development and IP (CDIP) last week approved and extended a project implementing the WIPO Development Agenda in the areas of design protection, and a “game-changer” IP management and technology transfer project, and a conference for least-developed countries on copyright.
Tedros Warms Up To Press In First Meeting, Sees Clear Mandate In “Landslide” Victory 24/05/2017 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments In his first meeting with the United Nations press corps the morning after his historic election as the next director general of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus began to unfold his vision for the organisation and fended off questions about the United States budget by saying WHO has to diversify its funding base. He also signaled a variety of possible issues to come such as increased assessments on governments, and consideration of the recommendations of a recent UN report on access to medicines.
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.
Ethiopian Becomes First African Head Of World Health Organization 23/05/2017 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments In a novel election process for the first time involving the full organisation membership, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus of Ethiopia this evening was elected as the next director general of the World Health Organization, becoming the first official from Africa to be chosen to head the United Nations health agency.
Speculation Rampant In Leadup To WHO Director General Election Today 23/05/2017 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Speculation in the hallways of United Nations headquarters in Geneva was rampant in the days and hours leading up to this afternoon’s election of a new director general to lead the UN World Health Organization, but solid information about who will win was hard to come by. The outcome after a series votes is expected sometime tonight. Update! According to sources, the first round of voting is over. Results: Tedros 95, Nabarro 52, Nishtar 38. Second round update! Tedros 121, Nabarro 62. Third round underway.