Category Health & IP

Leadership And Change: An Interview With Medicines Patent Pool Board Chair Marie-Paule Kieny

The unexpected announcement in December of the resignation of the Medicines Patent Pool executive director left the Pool searching for its new head. Marie-Paule Kieny, former World Health Organization assistant director general, now chair of the MPP governance board stepped in to oversee the MPP while the search goes on. She sat down recently for an interview with Intellectual Property Watch to explain that MPP is conducting business as usual, and is keeping firm in its plan to release the results of a feasibility study analysing the possibility for MPP to extend its licensing activities to other essential medicines still under patent.

Medicines Innovation And Access: Swiss Stimulate New Thinking

BERN, Switzerland -- What if reaching the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on access to health for all depended on the willingness of all actors to see beyond outdated dichotomies? The concept may seem obvious, but is easier described than done. In an effort to break silos, the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IPI) brought together stakeholders of all sides last week to discuss how to harness political and economic will to achieve innovation leading to new medicines that are available and affordable for all in need.

The Top 5 Issues In EU Medicines Policy For 2018 (Including IP)

Yannis Natsis writes: There is a breakdown in communications between the pharmaceutical industry and Ministers of Health in Europe. The newly-deployed tactic of public, personalised attacks on national decision-makers who express concerns over high prices of medicines, reveal a change in the industry’s lobbying strategy that might damage the relationship irreparably.

WHO Board Backs Ambitious Work Programme, Sent For Full Membership Approval

The World Health Organization programme of work 2019-2023 is one step closer to being adopted by member states and serving as a guideline for the future vision and mission of the organisation. The Executive Board approved the programme last week and recommended its adoption at the upcoming World Health Assembly. The programme issued by the secretariat in autumn was revised twice, as countries requested amendments.

Importance Of Flu Pandemic Preparedness Confirmed By WHO Board Decision

One hundred years after the great Spanish flu pandemic, World Health Organization members today underlined their satisfaction with the organisation’s framework to get countries best prepared for the next pandemic: The WHO Executive Board agreed on keeping most of the funds coming to the framework for preparedness measures, and a smaller portion for response measures, unless emergency strikes.