Category Health & IP

Committee Examines Undue Influence, Coordination In WHO Pandemic Flu Response

A review of the World Health Organization’s response to the 2009 pandemic influenza outbreak kicked off this week, with firm statements from those involved in the response that they were not unduly influenced by outside stakeholders. Still, serious questions remain about the coordination effort, as a nearly a year after the pandemic was declared developed countries find themselves having to dispose of excess vaccines while poorer countries are reporting they have yet to obtain as many as they need.

Risk Of Wrongful Medicines Seizures Seen In EU-Central America Trade Deal

A new accord designed to bolster political and economic ties between the European Union and Central America could result in greater seizures of medicines whenever pharmaceutical companies allege that their patents have been infringed, public health advocates have warned.

Débat houleux lors d’une réunion d’information organisée par l’OMS sur les médicaments contrefaits

Alors que l’Organisation mondiale de la Santé (OMS) continue de travailler sur la question des médicaments contrefaits, une réunion organisée en fin de semaine dernière a révélé des inquiétudes quant à la manière dont ce travail est mené.

Unbiased HIV Patent Pool — A Free-Market, Middle-Income Countries Open Model

Brand name pharmaceutical companies’ concerns about profit losses related to the UNITAID patent pool might undermine access to newer and appropriate HIV medicine formulations in resource-limited settings. A universally agreed strategy to supplement UNITAID plan is therefore needed, writes Daniele Dionisio.