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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.

Lamy Tells EU Parliament No (For Now) On ACTA

World Trade Organization Director General Pascal Lamy has answered a letter from members of the European Parliament asking that the WTO provide an “expert assessment and analysis of the current provision” of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) under negotiation. In…

Counterfeit Medicines In WTO Dispute Process, Heating Up At WHO

The international policy debate over counterfeit medicines and legitimate generics escalated today. Brazil and India took the first step in the World Trade Organization dispute settlement process for treatment of generics medicines falsely labelled counterfeit in Europe, and non-governmental organisations from both sides of the issue issued new releases stating their positions on the issues at the neighbouring World Health Organization.

IFPMA Developing World Partnerships Directory

The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA) has launched its “Developing World Health Partnerships Directory” for 2010. The directory details long-term (more than one year) public-private partnerships to improve health in developing countries. According to the report, available…