Under Scrutiny, WHO, Pharma Seek To Explain “Dangerous Nonsense” Of Pandemic 26/01/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Representatives of the World Health Organization and the European pharmaceutical industry today answered questions from the Council of Europe and the press on whether they had mishandled an outbreak of influenza this summer.
WHO Lashes Out As Council Of Europe Preps Hearing On Flu Pandemic 25/01/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 7 Comments The World Health Organization today defended its declaration of a global influenza pandemic, and saying any allegations that it is fake are “wrong and irresponsible.” The statement comes as the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) prepares for a public hearing tomorrow morning in Strasbourg to examine the allegations, involving representatives of the WHO and European vaccine manufacturers will be in attendance, as will independent medical experts.
New Intergovernmental Meeting At WHO Aims To Solve IP Rights And Influenza 20/01/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments A new intergovernmental negotiation, facilitated by the World Health Organization director general, will address an agreement for sharing virus-related materials and benefits and managing associated intellectual property rights in the WHO strategy for responding to pandemic influenza outbreaks.
Chan Launches Inquest On Leaked WHO Documents; Meetings Proposed On R&D Expert Report 20/01/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments The first public discussion of an expert report on how to finance the often costly process of research and development to create new medicines, vaccines and diagnostics needed by the poor to address diseases that disproportionately effect them began this week at the World Health Organization. There were immediate concerns about the last-minute release of the report’s full text and concerns from several governments that it came up short on critical areas, and it was decided that an informal consultation process will take place over the next few months. Meanwhile, World Health Organization Director General Margaret Chan said she has already begun an investigation to find out who leaked drafts of the expert group’s work to an international industry group in December.
Governments Scrutinise WHO On Pandemic Response, R&D Finance Group 18/01/2010 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The World Health Organization today declared it will launch a review of the global – including its own – response to the H1N1 swine influenza epidemic, as questions swirl around whether the UN agency trumped up the importance of H1N1. The WHO also faces charges this week that it has acted without transparency and inclusiveness in leading a process to find alternative financing for research and development into medicines for diseases occurring predominately in developing countries.
WHO Board To Address R&D Financing, Influenza 14/01/2010 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Finding financing to develop medicines for under-researched diseases, regulatory harmonisation, and pandemic influenza preparedness will top the agenda at next week’s World Health Organization Executive Board meeting.
Civil Society, Elected Officials Rally Behind UNITAID Patent Pool 14/12/2009 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments This week’s consideration of an implementation plan for a medicines patent pool by the board of oversight body UNITAID stirred a stream of stakeholder letters from around the world.
Counterfeit Medicines At WHO: Off Board’s Agenda, Still On Secretariat’s 11/12/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The issue of counterfeit and substandard medicines is again not on the agenda of the World Health Organization Executive Board meeting in January, though sources say member states are being consulted about the issue by the secretariat.
WHO Report On Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Now Available 11/12/2009 by Kaitlin Mara for Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The World Health Organization secretariat has released its report to the executive board meeting on pandemic influenza preparedness. A framework for handling outbreaks of potentially pandemic influenza was approved in May this year, but outstanding – and critical – elements of the framework remained unfinished.
UNITAID Drug Patent Pool Implementation Hinges On Board 11/12/2009 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments Implementation of a United Nations-related patent pool initiative that independent reviewers say could save millions of lives (and dollars) is set to be approved next week by the initiative’s board, though some observers fear resistance from strong patent beneficiaries, such as the foundation run by Microsoft founder Bill Gates. A confidential report on the initiative prepared for board approval is expected to show multiple benefits to implementation of the pool, but also some concerns, according to informed sources.