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.
WHO Board Considers Reform, Director Re-Election, Key IP-Related Issues 16/01/2012 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch 1 Comment The UN World Health Organization Executive Board opened its annual January meeting today with a substantive agenda of reform, election, and a variety of issues that touch on intellectual property rights, research and development and innovation. And with the organization in reform and funding straits in a rapidly changing world, the director general stressed the agency’s steadfast approach and role in addressing the increasing global inequality between rich and poor.
WIPO Audit/Evaluation Process Comes Of Age, With A Development Side 11/11/2011 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Evaluation and auditing of the World Intellectual Property Organization gained increased interest a few years ago when rich member countries responsible for most of its revenues became alarmed about questions of financial and human resources management. But now the UN agency’s sometimes bumpy evaluation process is maturing, including a development aspect, and has a new external report on its global technical assistance programmes.
Trade And Access To Medicines: Things The WTO Should Consider 14/10/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch 4 Comments Some pending thorny issues linked with trade and access to medicines in developing countries did not come up at the September Public Forum of the World Trade Organization. As unsolved matters closely joining together trade and equitable access to medicines, they might serve as things the WTO should consider to help keep itself relevant and interesting, writes Daniele Dionisio.
Drug Access Issues In Spotlight At UN High-Level Meeting On HIV, WIPO Event 08/06/2011 by Intellectual Property Watch, Intellectual Property Watch 2 Comments This week the United Nations meets in New York with the possibility of finding a way to end the HIV crisis that in the past two decades spread like wildfire and decimated societies in many developing countries, in particular in sub-Saharan Africa.
Global Events Take Aim At Health’s Biggest Enemy: Non-Communicable Diseases 26/04/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Non-communicable diseases such as cancer and diabetes now have a global reach, and are the leading cause of death, according to the World Health Organization, which describes them as an “epidemic.” Once considered problems of rich countries, they now hit low- and middle-income populations the worst, says WHO, but preventive actions could be taken. Meanwhile, civil society is warning about the lack of availability of non-communicable diseases medications in developing countries.
World Blind Union Won’t Be Sidetracked In Quest For Treaty On Reading Access 10/03/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch 5 Comments In a significant development for ongoing copyright negotiations at the World Intellectual Property Organization, the World Blind Union has distanced itself from initiatives it sees as distractions from a primary goal at the international level: To get agreement on a treaty promoting better access to reading material for visually impaired readers.
Long Week Ahead For WIPO Experts Considering Treaty On IP And Genetic Resources 28/02/2011 by Catherine Saez, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment Having successfully advanced discussions toward treaties on the protection of folklore and traditional knowledge, country experts this week are meeting at the World Intellectual Property Organization to discuss the protection of genetic resources. But this time, it might prove trickier.
IFPMA Names President, New Members, R&D Commitments 10/11/2010 by Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) today announced that David Brennan of AstraZeneca will be its new president, replacing Haruo Naito of pharmaceutical companiy Eisai. They also announced that California-based biotechnology company Amgen has become a member.
An Eventful Week For IP Policymaking In The United States 02/10/2010 by William New, Intellectual Property Watch Leave a Comment The United States’ search for ways to spark its job growth has led to a focus on intellectual property rights, and this week several significant developments boiled over.