E-drug: News from the 55th WHA
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Greetings from Geneva where this week the World Health Assembly takes place.
There are some developments that might be of interest to the readers of
IP-health and E-drug.
The SADAC countries have proposed a resolution on Health and sustainable
development which includes the following paragraph:
"Urge the Director-General [of the WHO] to report to the next World Health
Assembly on international trade agreements, and the concept of global public
goods, emphasising current trade ptractices that are harmful to health and
prevent access to necessary pharmaceuticals and technology"
The US is opposing this text. At the moment there is a drafting group
meeting taking place. The drafting group is closed to NGOs. US trade
representative is taking part in the drafting group.
India has also proposed an amendment to the resolution on the UN Millenium
Declaration:
'Urges Member States to encourage the pharmaceutical industry to make
essential drugs more widely available and affordable by all who need them in
developing countries.'
The discussion on the WHO medicines strategy and HIV-AIDS will take place
later today or tomorrow. The general feeling seems to be that the medicines
resolution will be adopted as proposed.
Yesterday and today there was a discussion on the Global Fund. Some
countries raised the need for a strategy that ensures that generic
procurement is possible in particular China and Thailand.
I hope to have more information later in the day.
You can find most of the Assembly documents on :http://www.who.int/gb/
Kind regards,
Ellen 't Hoen
ellen.t.hoen@paris.msf.org
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