E-DRUG: WHO assembly backs talks on 'neglected' disease research
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[Besides about the framework for essential health research, the Executive Board will discuss this week:
- Rational Use of drugs (see http://www.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/EB118/B118_6-en.pdf)
Resolutions etc will become available at: www.who.int/gb
Below an AFP message about the Neglected Disease research; copied as fair use. Wilbert, moderator]
WHO assembly backs talks on 'neglected' disease research
May 28, 2006
The World Health Organisation's member states agreed to launch talks on
boosting research on "neglected" diseases, such as malaria and
tuberculosis, after deciding that the structure of the pharmaceutical
industry means that poor nations are disadvantaged.
The annual assembly of the 192-nation WHO backed efforts spearheaded by
Brazil and Kenya to step up the fight against diseases which hit developing
countries hardest.
The assembly accepted a resolution which called on member states to "secure
enhanced and sustainable funding for developing and making accessible
products to address diseases that disproportionately affect developing
countries".
Member states should come up with a "global strategy and plan of action" in
time for the next WHO assembly in May 2007, the resolution said.
Saturday's move by the WHO's member states was part of the wider debate on
the vexed issue of drugs patents and research funding, which has provoked
disputes at past meetings of the UN health agency.
Critics charge that the current system, hingeing on patents and drug
pricing to finance research and development (RetD), leaves huge health
needs unmet.
"Intellectual property rights are an important incentive for the
development of new health-care products", the resolution said.
"However...this incentive alone does not meet the need for development of
new products to fight diseases where the potential paying market is small
or uncertain."
"New thinking" is needed, the resolution said.
Activists hailed Saturday's decision.
"For the first time, were starting to see action that begins to mirror the
magnitude of the problems and needs that we witness everyday in our field
programmes", said Dr Tido von Schoen-Angerer, of the international medical
charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF).
"This is a crucial first step that will help us put in place new ways of
stimulating RetD for health problems that so far industry has ignored", he
added.
MSF said that only 21 of the 1,556 drugs brought onto the global market
from 1975-2004 were destined to fight "neglected" diseases.
Last month, a report by former Swiss President Ruth Dreifuss which was
commissioned by the WHO pointed to flaws in the current system of research,
which steers investment towards areas of highest profitability.
The report, which was formally welcomed by the assembly on Saturday, also
called on the pharmaceutical industry to slash the price of drugs sold in
developing countries -- something companies insist they have already done
in many cases.
For the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and
Associations, the price and patent issue falls outside the mandate of the
WHO and should instead be discussed only at the World Trade Organisation.
The latter adopted new rules in 2003 allowing poor countries to import
cheap copies of patented drugs to tackle health crises, but no government
has so far taken advantage of them.
In previous years, rich countries which are home to the world's top
pharmaceutical firms have sparred with poor nations which say their
concerns are sidelined and want more flexibility to fight epidemics
cheaply.
But campaigners said that such countries -- including the United States and
Switzerland -- had been "constructive and positive" at the WHO assembly
this time. - AFP