# \[e-drug\] MSF statement at the end of week of IGWG II negotiations **URL:** \ **Category:** e-drug\ **Created:** [November 10, 2007, 12:45pm UTC](https://talk.edrugplus.org/t/e-drug-msf-statement-at-the-end-of-week-of-igwg-ii-negotiations/28791 "2007-11-10T12:45:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![James\_ARKINSTALL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f1d935/32.png) [@James\_ARKINSTALL](https://talk.edrugplus.org/u/James_ARKINSTALL)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2007, 12:45pm UTC](https://talk.edrugplus.org/t/e-drug-msf-statement-at-the-end-of-week-of-igwg-ii-negotiations/28791/1 "2007-11-10T12:45:47Z")
E-DRUG: MSF statement at the end of week of IGWG II negotiations ---------------------------------------------------------------- MSF STATEMENT AT END OF WEEK OF IGWG NEGOTIATIONS Geneva, 10th November 2007 – Representatives from Ministries of Health gathered in Geneva this week for the second round of negotiations of the Intergovernmental Working Group for Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property (IGWG). They were charged with coming up with a strategy and plan of action to ensure new medical products are developed, and existing ones are made affordable. The meeting has been suspended after delegates ran out of time after six days of negotiations, and will resume in early 2008. MSF STATEMENT AT END OF WEEK OF IGWG NEGOTIATIONS Geneva, 10th November 2007 - Representatives from Ministries of Health gathered in Geneva this week for the second round of negotiations of the Intergovernmental Working Group for Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property (IGWG). They were charged with coming up with a strategy and plan of action to ensure new medical products are developed, and existing ones are made affordable. The meeting has been suspended after delegates ran out of time after six days of negotiations, and will resume in early 2008. MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES/DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS COMMENTS AT THE END OF THE MEETING: "What is most encouraging is that governments have decided that business as usual won't do anymore," said Michel Lotrowska, Campaigner at MSF's Access to Essential Medicines Campaign. "They are open to exploring entirely new ways of financing essential health research, in such a way that the fruits of innovation are accessible to those who need it the most. One example is the decision to pursue discussions on an essential health and biomedical R&D treaty." "We are getting a sense that countries are pushing WHO to be more active in resolving the access to medicines crisis, and take a pro-health approach to intellectual property. And governments are taking steps to address the fundamental reasons why investment into innovation for diseases of the poor is lacking," said Lotrowska. "As a medical organisation, we need an R&D system that allows both medical innovation and access." For further information and to arrange interviews, please contact: Ms. Clio Van Cauter: +41 79 293 02 70 or +41 22 849 8403