E-DRUG: MSF Access Campaign vacancy: Medical Innovation Policy Adviser
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Medical Innovation Policy Adviser
MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES
Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines
www.msfaccess.org
TERMS OF REFERENCE
Title: Medical Innovation and Access Policy Adviser
Based: Geneva
Duration Full time/ long-term contract
Reporting to: Director of Policy Advocacy
BACKGROUND
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is a leading international, independent,
medical, humanitarian organisation, dedicated to providing expert medical
humanitarian assistance to vulnerable
populations at times of conflict or disaster. In over 60 countries
worldwide, MSF provides both life-saving emergency relief and longer-term
assistance to make basic healthcare services available
to the most vulnerable or excluded communities.
Médecins Sans Frontières set up the MSF Access Campaign in 1999 to improve
access to existing medical tools (medicines, diagnostics, vaccines) and to
stimulate the development
of urgently needed better tools for people in countries where MSF works.
From the start we faced two major challenges – the high cost of existing
medicines and the absence of treatments for many of the diseases affecting
our patients. Our response has been
on the one hand to challenge the high costs of existing drugs or outdated
treatment policies. On the other hand we have worked to stimulate research
into new medical tools for neglected
diseases such as tuberculosis, and malaria.
There is growing recognition, most recently with the completion of the
World Health Organization Intergovernmental Working Group on Public Health,
Innovation and Intellectual Property (IGWG) on a
Global Strategy and Plan of Action, that in order to meet the needs of
people in resource poor settings, policies must address both ways to
stimulate innovation for new tools, but also to ensure access
to the resulting products. Yet as more and more newer drugs are being
patented in key generic producing countries, generic competition will no
longer automatically be able to act as the catalyst for price
reductions as it did in the recent past. New ways to keep medicines
affordable must be set in motion. There will need to be an increased focus
on the use of compulsory licences or other ways to overcome
barriers to affordable access and innovation, such as UNITAID’s proposal
for a patent pool for HIV medicines.
There is also a need to address the flaws in the current system of research
and development which relies primarily with huge detrimental consequences -
on companies recouping their R&D investments
through charging high prices, and protecting that price through patent
monopolies. Not only does this mean that some drugs, diagnostics and
vaccines remain completely out of reach for many patients, it also
means that diseases like TB or paediatric HIV that mostly affect the poor
don’t get anywhere near the attention and investment into research as
diseases that have bigger, more lucrative markets. Alternative
financing mechanisms for research and development (R&D) that reward R&D –
but do not rely on charging high prices –that stimulate more innovation and
at the same time ensure affordable access to the
product are needed. A number of such proposals are currently under
discussion for example innovation inducement prize funds.
This position will initially focus on building on the Access Campaign’s
work in this area, by critically analysing new proposals to stimulate
innovation and access, and also promoting specific alternative
proposals such as prize funds and patent pools.
JOB PROFILE
Objectives:
- To provide analysis and strategic advice on policy developments
relevant to innovation and access to essential health technologies
- Gather and analyse the research and development needs emanating from
the field teams to inform the Campaign’s advocacy work
- Support the strategy development and advocacy for the establishment
of new policy mechanisms that can stimulate innovation and access to
essential health technologies at the international level.
- Stimulate public debate around appropriate innovation and access to
new health technologies (articles, meetings campaigns, media work)
- The Policy Adviser will also be expected to support the Policy
Advocacy Director and collaborate with other team members.
Main responsibilities and tasks:
- Building on work previously undertaken, develop the Campaign’s
knowledge and expertise of policies/initiatives related to innovation and
access, and analyse their ability to meet the needs of
resource poor settings.
- Support the strategy development and advocacy for the establishment
of new policy mechanisms that can stimulate innovation and access, for
example establishment of a prize fund for TB diagnostics
and a patent pool for HIV medicines
- Advise and implement actions and strategies to influence policies
that may be detrimental for access and innovation and to promote positive
measures to improve access to medicines or innovation.
- Prepare background documents and briefing notes on the impact of new
research and development proposals on meeting the needs of resource poor
settings.
- Present MSF Access Campaign position on innovation and access in
external meetings
- Foster and maintain a network of policy makers, NGOs, umbrella groups
and academics working in the international health field on these issues
- Work with the Communications Department to highlight MSF concerns,
including the development of campaigns to engage members of MSF and the
broader public in supporting proposals for
alternative mechanisms.
- Contribute to the strengthening of the Policy Advocacy team systems,
in collaboration with team colleagues.
- Contribute to efforts to promote key campaign issues, on occasion
substituting for other Policy advisors, if appropriate.
EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE
Essential requirements:
- Either: a degree in a relevant subject area (Law, economics,
International relations, public health) plus two years experience of
advocacy/ campaigning at the international level
- Or at least 4 years experience of international advocacy related to
health issues with a demonstrable network of contacts with relevant policy
makers, NGOs, academics in the international health field.
- Proven representation, communication and negotiation skills combined
with a willingness to act as a spokesperson.
- Knowledge/experience of current issues relating to international
health and access to medicines and innovation.
- Fluency in English.
- Ability to work independently; capacity to take initiatives and seize
opportunities.
- Availability to travel to both other MSF offices, field projects and
relevant meetings.
- Computer literate (Word, Excel, Internet).
Desirable requirements:
- Fluency in French.
- Experience of working with the media.
- Experience in development of public facing campaigns.
HOW TO APPLY
Closing date for applications: 30 June 2009
To apply send your CV and a letter of motivation to:
Ms. Mai Do
Human Resources Officer
Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines
Médecins Sans Frontières
8 rue Saint Sabin
75011 Paris
France
E-mail: mdo@msf.org