Category Finance

No Shorter Floor Statements Nor Cap On Agenda Items, Says WHO Board

Despite being in a time of tight budgets, the World Health Organization Executive Board meeting which ended this week had its heaviest agenda ever, according WHO Director General Margaret Chan, adding to staff workload and expenses. But the Board finished its work a day early (though after holding three evening sessions), earning praise from Chan. Efforts during the week to make meetings more efficient by limiting agenda items and reducing time allowed for statements fell short. Separately, concerns arose over a leadership advisory group to the WHO director general.

Gates Foundation, KEI Enter Into Official Relations With WHO

The World Health Organization Executive Board ended its meeting one day early today, and agreed to have five new institutions to enter into official relation with the organisation, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, despite protests from civil society groups, and Knowledge Ecology International, led by activist firebrand Jamie Love. Meanwhile, the WHO is pursuing the implementation of its framework of engagement with non-governmental actors adopted in 2016. WHO members urged the organisation to speedily provide implementation tools such as a register of all such actors. The WHO said all is on track and is expected to be ready by the next World Health Assembly.

WHO-Led Efforts To Boost R&D In Neglected Diseases Jeopardised By Funding Gap

Finding resources to fund research and development for diseases primarily affecting developing and least-developed countries is a continuous challenge. Hopes were raised in 2015 with projects to launch a Global Observatory on Health Research and Development, and a voluntary pooled fund for research and development projects. However, the lack of funding is jeopardizing those initiatives despite some contributions by developed and middle-income countries.

WHO Members Negotiate Resolution On Cancer; High Prices In Question

Cancer is spreading. According to the World Health Organization, the number of new cases of cancer is projected to increase to 21.6 million annually by 2030. The WHO Executive Board this week is considering a draft resolution for actions by the WHO member states and the secretariat. The resolution is being discussed and amended as issues such as the affordability and the accessibility of new cancer medicines, in particular in developing countries, are highlighted by many.

Is Gates Foundation, WHO’s Biggest Private Funder, Ineligible To Join WHO?

As the World Health Organization Board prepares to consider candidate institutions to be admitted into official relations with the organisation, some health and public interest groups are raising alarm at what they see as a seeming lack of safeguard against conflicts of interest. Particular concern has been raised over admitting the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as an observer because of the Foundation trust’s investments in business ventures such as Coca-Cola, which they see as contrary to health goals. But the Gates Foundation, which is the biggest private donor to the WHO, said the trust is a separate entity from the foundation, and therefore does not represent any conflict of interest.

WHO Director General Candidates Hold Colorful Meeting With The Press

The three remaining candidates to be director general of the World Health Organization today met at length with UN journalists in the WHO and highlighted their plans for reform including finding new sources of funding for the continually cash-strapped UN agency that now could face threats from the US president to cut US funding.

World Economic Forum Hears Hopes And Fears: Too Early To Predict Trade War

It is too early to push the panic button with regard to the rise of protectionism under new US President Donald Trump, David Cote, CEO of US multinational Honeywell, said on a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum today in Davos.

Groups Seek Assurance Of Affordable Zika Vaccine From US Army Exclusive Licence

A range of civil society organisations have issued a public statement opposing the United States Army’s proposed grant of an exclusive licence on technology necessary to produce a Zika vaccine to French pharmaceutical company Sanofi. The letter cites concerns that the exclusive licence might violate US law and could lead to high priced medicines as consumers buy back taxpayer-funded research.

New Book Highlights IP Trade Law Flexibilities For Public Health

A recently published book by a high-impact public health advocate provides new analysis on the use of flexibilities in international trade law relating to intellectual property rights aimed at advancing discussions on solutions to high drug prices worldwide.