Year 2010

WHO’s Precious Matsoso On Public Health, Innovation And Intellectual Property

The annual World Health Assembly is considering how to take forward a 2008 landmark decision at the World Health Organization that approved a new Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property. Precious Matsoso, the current director of the WHO programme, spoke to Intellectual Property Watch in April about the ongoing implementation of the strategy, and what is needed to keep momentum going.

WHO: No Evidence Of Misleading On Counterfeit Medicines

There is no evidence that the work of the World Health Organization has been misled or misled its members on the issue of fake or dangerous drugs, representatives of the UN organisation told journalists today. Nor is the WHO yet ready to drop use of the term 'counterfeit' to describe such medicines despite generic producing nations complaints about possible confusion over the term.

Proposals At WHO Would Boost Drug Safety, Replace Anti-Counterfeiting Taskforce

Discussion at the annual World Health Assembly on counterfeit medicines may prove lively as stakeholders continue to raise concerns that the term “counterfeit” will confuse protecting patients from unsafe drugs with protecting trademarks from infringement. And an industry-led event in the lead-up to the WHA said counterfeit medicines pose great risks and will require a coordinated international response.

Developing Countries Blast WHO Report On IP, Demand “Credible” Approach

A critical report on financing research and development of medicines for the world's poorest was created without transparency, failed to live up to its mandate, and did not address the potential threat that intellectual property rights can pose to access to drugs, developing countries said today at the World Health Assembly. A proposal by a group of Latin American countries for a new intergovernmental working group was not accepted by developed countries and others and quick informal consultations began to work out differences before the end of the assembly this week.

Chan Urges Innovation, Defends WHO Flu Response As New Group Approved

World Health Organization Director General Margaret Chan opened the annual World Health Assembly today with a welcome of the transparency in the “most closely watched pandemic in history,” and how the drive to meet the UN Millennium Development Goals would unleash a “host of innovations for improving health, especially among the poorest,” adding a call for vaccines as one of the “best life-saving buys on offer.”

EU Previews Digital Agenda To 2020

The European Union today said half of its productivity gains since 1995 have come from information and communications technology (ICT), and gave some signals about its digital agenda to the year 2020, as part of a broader plan to be…

Nueva iniciativa ecuatoriana: combatir la piratería con programas informáticos libres

Los programas informáticos libres se están utilizando como una alternativa legal para combatir la piratería de programas informáticos en un proyecto conjunto impulsado por una organización sin fines de lucro regional, en coordinación con el Instituto Ecuatoriano de la Propiedad Intelectual (IEPI). En este proyecto, se hace uso de las bibliotecas públicas para difundir los programas informáticos libres.

WHO Members To Act On Research Financing, Pandemic Preparedness

How to proceed with the results of an initiative aimed at finding real alternatives for innovative health research financing is on the agenda at next week's World Health Assembly (WHA). The assembly also is expected to approve the continuation of a working group on pandemic influenza preparedness.