WHO Board Backs Ambitious Work Programme, Sent For Full Membership Approval 29/01/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments The World Health Organization programme of work 2019-2023 is one step closer to being adopted by member states and serving as a guideline for the future vision and mission of the organisation. The Executive Board approved the programme last week and recommended its adoption at the upcoming World Health Assembly. The programme issued by the secretariat in autumn was revised twice, as countries requested amendments.
Importance Of Flu Pandemic Preparedness Confirmed By WHO Board Decision 26/01/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment One hundred years after the great Spanish flu pandemic, World Health Organization members today underlined their satisfaction with the organisation’s framework to get countries best prepared for the next pandemic: The WHO Executive Board agreed on keeping most of the funds coming to the framework for preparedness measures, and a smaller portion for response measures, unless emergency strikes.
Facing Tense IP And Health Talks, WHO Board Erupts Into Dance (Video) 26/01/2018 by William New and Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Member nations of the World Health Organization became accustomed in recent years to singing by the WHO director general, and sometimes crying, but under the new DG there seems to be a move toward the whole room getting up in the middle of serious negotiations and … dancing.
WHO Executive Board Agrees On Actions To Boost R&D, Access To Medicines 26/01/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments After long deliberations, the World Health Organization Executive Board agreed this morning to ask member states and the organisation to implement recommendations aiming at improving innovation and access to medicines. Three recommendations, specifically aimed at member states, including on the transparency on the cost of research and development of medicines, met resistance by some countries and were left hanging, to be discussed by member states with no timeframe.
CBD Issues Study On Challenges For Benefit-Sharing Of Digital Genetic Information 26/01/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The UN Convention on Biological Diversity has issued the results of a fact-finding study on genetic resources digital genetic information. The study particularly examined terminology and how digital genetic information are influencing its protocol on access and benefit sharing of genetic resources. The study called for policymakers to stay abreast of the profound developments shaping research today, and underlined challenges such as the identification of contributors and users, the provenance of sequences, and what the study defined as a “grey area” between non-commercial and commercial research.
New Text Shows Progress Of Negotiation On IP And Access At WHO 25/01/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The Brazilian ambassador and others this morning at the World Health Organization Executive Board meeting were not going to let go of what seemed to be a delaying tactic by the United States and Japan to postpone agreement on the implementation of measures aimed at facilitating research and development and access to medicines. The WHO Board today is considering a set of streamlined strategic measures on public health, innovation, and intellectual property.
WHO Board Shows Resolve In Tackling Shortages, Access To Medicines, Vaccines 25/01/2018 by Catherine Saez and William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The members of the World Health Organization Executive Board tonight (24 January) agreed to create a roadmap on global shortages of, and access to, medicines and vaccines. WHO members proclaimed the urgent need to address prices and availability of safe and efficient medicines and vaccines, some requesting the recently elected director general of the organisation to help find solutions.
WHO Members Set To Debate Transparency Of R&D Costs 24/01/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment World Health Organization Executive Board members and observer countries today are preparing to discuss recommendations on ways to lower prices and make medicines more accessible. This includes a new proposal to increase transparency in research and development costs that is reportedly causing concern among some developed countries.
Three New Draft Proposals At WHO: Shortages, Snakebite, Assistive Technology 23/01/2018 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Three new draft proposals at the World Health Organization Executive Board this week underline the importance of access and affordability, whether it is vaccines and medicines, including antivenoms, or assistive technology. The draft resolutions call on member states as well as the WHO secretariat to urgently take action to facilitate access to products and technologies at affordable prices.
WTO, WHO, WIPO Symposium To Look At Innovative Technologies And UN SDGs 22/01/2018 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Three major international organisations in Geneva dealing with health, trade and intellectual property rights will come together next month to look at how innovative technologies can help to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health.