WHO Boosts Efforts For Plain Packaging 31/05/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment “Tobacco-related illness is one of the biggest public health threats the world has ever faced,” according to the World Health Organization, and plain packaging of tobacco products can save lives, it said. The theme of this year’s no-tobacco day, today, is: Get ready for plain packaging, as the WHO is calling for countries to introduce plain packaging in their territories.
WHA Gets First UN Framework Managing Non-State Actors; Countries Satisfied, Actors Concerned 30/05/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The first agreement on how to manage relationships between a United Nations organisation and non-governmental actors, such as industry, philanthropic organisations and public interest groups, was adopted on 28 May by the World Health Assembly. The framework, which had been discussed for several years, was hailed as historic by many countries, but met a mixed reaction from those primarily concerned.
Innovation et accès : fission ou fusion ? Entretien avec David Taylor, Professeur en Politique Pharmaceutique et de Santé Publique à l’UCL (University College London) 30/05/2016 by Guest contributor for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Dans le sillage du Groupe de Haut Niveau des Nations Unies sur l’accès aux médicaments (UN High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines) cette série d’articles sponsorisés convie des experts à donner leur point de vue sur les politiques les mieux à même de favoriser l’élaboration de solutions aux plus importants enjeux sociétaux, ainsi que sur la manière dont un cadre réglementaire favorable –y compris les systèmes de protection de la propriété intellectuelle – influence le développement et la diffusion de nouvelles technologies et de nouveaux services au sein de différents secteurs, domaines technologiques et juridictions. Les opinions exprimées dans ces articles n’engagent que leurs auteurs.
Innovación y acceso: ¿fisión o fusión? Entrevista a David Taylor, profesor de Políticas Farmacéuticas y de Salud Pública del University College de Londres 30/05/2016 by Guest contributor for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Tomando como referencia el trabajo del Grupo de Alto Nivel de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Acceso a los Medicamentos (UN High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines), esta serie de artículos patrocinados invita a expertos en la materia a expresar sus puntos de vista sobre las políticas que respaldan con mayor eficacia la formulación de soluciones que respondan a los principales desafíos de las sociedades, y sobre cómo los entornos propicios para la implantación de políticas, incluidas las relativas a los sistemas de propiedad intelectual, influyen en el desarrollo y el caudal de nuevas tecnologías y servicios en diferentes sectores, campos tecnológicos y territorios. Las opiniones expresadas en los artículos son las del autor.
Reactions To WHA Resolution On R&D Financing Generally Positive 28/05/2016 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Today, the annual World Health Assembly is poised to approve a new plan on research and development into medical products that are affordable to all. NGOs, industry and other observers welcomed the outcome.
Drug Pricing, Generics Figure Into WHO Strategies On HIV, Hepatitis 28/05/2016 by Mara Pillinger for Intellectual Property Watch and William New 1 Comment As the 69th World Health Assembly draws to a close, member states are being asked to approve a series of draft global health sector strategies for HIV, viral hepatitis, and sexually transmitted infections. And the issues involve some questions of intellectual property rights.
WHO Drafting Group Agrees Resolution On Health R&D 28/05/2016 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A closed-door drafting group this evening arrived seemingly easily at agreement on a resolution on broadening work on new ways to fund research and development into medical products, according to participants. The agreement includes the creation of a new expert committee on health R&D, and asks for a WHO proposal on a pooled fund, they said. [Update: draft text now available]
Global Health In The Glare In G7 Final Resolutions; Trade Deals Promised For 2016 27/05/2016 by Monika Ermert for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Reform of the WHO, support for the Contingency Fund for Emergency to enable swift initial responses by the WHO, and a special R&D and innovation chapter in the G7 Ise-Shima Vision for Global Health that does not include the word intellectual property are some of the notables after the G7 Summit closed today in Japan. Counting pages, Global Health and lessons from the recent Ebola and Zika outbreaks did receive the biggest attention. But the G7 would not be its old usual without considerable warnings and some concrete proposals how to fight global terrorism and violent extremism.
WHO Reforms Health Emergency Response But Who Will Pay The Bill? 27/05/2016 by Mara Pillinger for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Two years after Ebola, the World Health Organization continues to push forward with a thorough overhaul of how it responds to health emergencies. These include Public Health Emergencies of International Concern (PHEICs), such as the Ebola and Zika outbreaks, as well as natural diseases, conflicts, refugee crises, and the like.
Drafting Group Finishes Framework On WHO And Outside Actors 27/05/2016 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment If adopted as expected tomorrow by the World Health Assembly, a framework guiding the relationships between the World Health Organization and outside actors will be the first of its kind in the United Nations system, according to sources.