World Health Assembly: Members Gavel New Mechanism To Fight Poor-Quality Medicines 26/05/2012 by Rachel Marusak Hermann, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment World Health Organization member states have decided to establish a new mechanism for international collaboration to prevent and control “substandard, spurious, falsely-labelled, falsified and counterfeit medical products” (SSFFC). Excluding trade and intellectual property considerations, this mechanism is called to approach the problem strictly from a public health perspective.
World Health Assembly: Agreement Reached On Neglected Disease R&D Process, But No Convention 25/05/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 8 Comments A proposal at this week’s World Health Assembly to negotiate a binding convention on research and development for neglected diseases – those predominantly afflicting poor populations – ran into resistance from developed countries which hold the view that another approach might be possible. But an agreement was reached on a way forward for the expert report that recommended the binding convention.
World Health Assembly: Members Adopt Resolution On Preventing, Controlling NCDs 25/05/2012 by Rachel Marusak Hermann, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments The first global target on noncommunicable diseases has been gavelled through a World Health Assembly meeting. Member states have decided on a voluntary global target in reducing overall mortality from cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes or chronic respiratory disease.
World Health Assembly: Latest Texts Of R&D Drafting Group 25/05/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The latest available documents of the closed-door meeting addressing recommendations on ways to finance neglected diseases largely afflicting developing countries show progress heading into this afternoon’s session. They reflect efforts to agree on how to take the process forward, including agreement reached last night on putting the issue to regional groups later this year.
World Health Assembly: R&D Drafting Group Documents Show Country Differences 24/05/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A set of documents in use by today’s closed-door negotiations on research and development for neglected diseases at the World Health Assembly lay out the core differences between WHO members. Negotiations are expected to last into the night as members try to agree on how to take forward recommendations from a key report – including to negotiate a binding convention on R&D for diseases left behind in the marketplace.
World Health Assembly Draft Decision On NCDs 24/05/2012 by Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Members of the World Health Organization tonight will consider a draft decision on how the organisation will address the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases, such as tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and harmful use of alcohol.
World Health Assembly: Drafting Group Works To Combine Proposals On R&D 24/05/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment A drafting group has embarked on the task of combining four different proposals on the table at the annual World Health Assembly aimed at financing research and development for neglected diseases mostly afflicting poorer populations.
WHO Members To Address Proposals For Financing Developing Country R&D 22/05/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Members of the World Health Organization at their annual meeting tomorrow will address proposals for ways to finance research and development for diseases which afflict mainly developing countries but for which there are not lucrative markets.
Nobel Laureate, Other Experts Hail WHO Effort On Medicines R&D Framework 22/05/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The annual World Health Assembly being held this week has a rare chance to achieve a breakthrough on health research for the global poor if it can agree to move forward on a proposed convention, proponents said at a recent meeting.
WHO Director Chan Opens Annual Assembly With Optimism, Despite Economic Woes 21/05/2012 by Rachel Marusak Hermann, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments World Health Organization Director General Margaret Chan today opened the annual assembly of the UN agency’s member states with a positive outlook on the future of public health. At a time of economic uncertainty, she called on countries to be efficient in their spending, to take ownership of the health of their people, and to look toward innovative health solutions.