Original news and analysis on international IP policy
Country delegates gathered Saturday at the World Health Assembly decided to give another year to a working group in charge of making recommendations on falsified medicines. Unanimously, countries decided that more time is needed to reach consensual recommendations, in particular on the prickly issue of intellectual property rights.
A World Health Organization expert working group on innovative financing of research and development for diseases particularly affecting developing countries will present its inception report and work plan this week.
Enthusiasm and relief were palpable at the World Health Assembly last week when member states in committee adopted a resolution on global preparedness in case of influenza pandemic, and in particular on the sharing of viruses and access to vaccines for developing countries.
A committee of member governments of the World Health Organization this week adopted a resolution on the future financing of the organisation and a broad set of reforms, as well as a resolution on the WHO’s management of a recent influenza pandemic showing no evidence of wrongdoing.
Microsoft legend Bill Gates is impassioned about helping to save lives as head of a large-scale foundation. Today, he explained to Intellectual Property Watch how intellectual property rights help drive that process forward and make it sustainable.
The United States fully supports the programme of reforms proposed by the World Health Organization Director General Margaret Chan, the US health minister said today.
World Health Organization Director General Margaret Chan today presented her broad vision of a reformed WHO at the opening of the annual assembly of the organisation, and said the WHO was clear of suspicion of alleged pharmaceutical industry influence on the management of the H1N1 pandemic.
The state of global health and the work of the international organisation in charge of providing leadership in public health matters will be scrutinised at the annual World Health Assembly starting next week.
A pledge against the spread of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and other noncommunicable diseases was made last week by health ministers adopting a “Moscow Declaration” to prevent, and treat such illnesses.
A call for proposals was launched today by the World Health Organization expert group in charge of making recommendations on ways to encourage and finance research and development for diseases that mostly affect developing countries.
The World Health Organization has launched today in Moscow its first Global Status Report on Noncommunicable Diseases (NCDs).
Non-communicable diseases such as cancer and diabetes now have a global reach, and are the leading cause of death, according to the World Health Organization, which describes them as an “epidemic.” Once considered problems of rich countries, they now hit low- and middle-income populations the worst, says WHO, but preventive actions could be taken. Meanwhile, civil society is warning about the lack of availability of non-communicable diseases medications in developing countries.