World Health Assembly Approves Plan To Strengthen Access To Essential Medicines 24/05/2014 by Joséphine De Ruyck for Intellectual Property Watch, Julia Fraser for Intellectual Property Watch and William New 2 Comments World Health Organization members tonight approved a resolution aimed at improving access to essential medicines. Agreement came after a compromise on a proposed provision referencing other medicines that are not qualified as essential medicines.
WHO Members Note Reform Progress, Ask For Speedy Implementation 23/05/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment World Health Organization members this week examined progress made in the ongoing reform of the UN agency. Members speaking in committee made firm requests for speedy implementation of reforms, and commended WHO’s efforts toward financial sustainability, with some cautions.
WHO Wrestles With Plan To Pursue R&D For Neglected Diseases 23/05/2014 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment World Health Organization members today are expected to address a proposal on future efforts to find a solution to the longstanding problem of sustainable funding for research into diseases predominantly afflicting poor populations. An effort to close the topic yesterday was delayed when a proposal was put forward that named a WHO department as the potential host of the future activities on this issue.
WHA: New Draft Decision On Non-State Actors Sets Plan For Next Year 23/05/2014 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A new draft decision putting action on a proposal for external actors’ engagement with the World Health Organization on track for next year will be considered by a committee at the World Health Assembly.
WHA Adopts Resolution On Hepatitis; Member States Concerned Over High Prices 22/05/2014 by Julia Fraser for Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments Member states today unanimously adopted a resolution on hepatitis drafted by the Executive Board meeting in January 2014, with two small amendments decided upon in informal intersessional consultations since the Board meeting.
Vaccines At WHA: Immunization Concerns, High Prices For Middle-Income Countries 22/05/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments Immunization coverage in many developing countries remains low and even shows a decrease in some cases, according to the report of a World Health Organization advisory group of experts, to be noted by this week’s World Health Assembly. A number of developing countries yesterday underlined the high cost of new vaccines and asked that the WHO help them campaign for lower prices.
Role Of Industry, NGOs, Foundations At WHO Under Intense Debate 21/05/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment A proposal to increase the engagement of “non-state actors” – industry, nongovernmental organisations, foundations and academics – in the activities of the World Health Organization is under intense debate at the annual World Health Assembly this week.
Gates Foundation Echoes WHO Concern Over Medicines Access In Trade Deals 20/05/2014 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment Melinda Gates of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation addressed the World Health Assembly today, highlighting a new initiative on newborns. And at a press conference earlier in the day, a senior colleague signalled support for WHO Director General Margaret Chan’s strong concern yesterday about possible negative effects of free trade agreements on access to affordable medicines.
Committee On WIPO Standards Stumbles Over Development Agenda 20/05/2014 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments The World Intellectual Property Organization technical committee working on standards to facilitate work of intellectual property offices and their communication had to adjourn its fourth session last week for lack of agreement on the committee’s relationship to the 2007 Development Agenda of the organisation.
WHO Director Chan Stresses Polio, Inequity, Climate, Junk Food, Supremacy Of Health Over Economic Interests 19/05/2014 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 3 Comments World Health Organization Director General Margaret Chan opened the annual World Health Assembly today with strong calls to address a wide range of top health concerns across the world. This included a call for the global health community to work to assert the primacy of health concerns over economic interests.