E-DRUG: WHO to hold public hearings on public health, innovation and
intellectual property
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All parties with an interest in the upcoming Intergovernmental Working
Group on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property are invited
to present their views to web-based public hearings organized by the
World Health Organization (WHO).
WHO encourages individuals, civil society groups, government
institutions, academic and research institutions, the private sector and
other interested parties to contribute to the open hearings between 1
and 15 November. The initiative will provide an opportunity for
everyone, including the general public, to contribute to developing a
solution to a major public health challenge - how to enhance innovation,
research and development to address diseases predominantly affecting
poor populations.
The developing world continues to bear the highest burden of disease but
represents only a small part of the treatment market. While having to
cope with a high incidence of infectious diseases, developing countries
are also seeing a rapid growth in non-communicable and chronic diseases.
Many of the benefits of modern science are not reaching the poor, in
particular women and children, who are among the most vulnerable
populations.
The web-based hearings come a few weeks before the start of formal
discussions between Member States at an Intergovernmental Working Group
on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property, taking place in
Geneva from 4-8 December. The group will discuss a global strategy and
plan of action to enhance research and development to respond to public
health challenges. Contributions received between 1-15 November will
form part of the documentation to be considered and discussed at the
December meeting.
The parameters of the Intergovernmental Working Group were set forth in
WHA Resolution 59/24, which was based on recommendations of the
Commission on Public health Innovation and Intellectual property
(CIPIH). Contributors to the public hearings are invited to consult the
resolution and the CIPIH report at:
http://www.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA59/A59_R24-en.pdf
http://www.who.int/intellectualproperty/documents/thereport/en/
Notice of hearings
The two-week web based hearings will run from 1 until 15 November.
Beginning 1 November, contributions can be submitted via the dedicated
web site in any of the six official UN languages (Arabic, Chinese,
English, French, Russian and Spanish).
For instructions and to submit contributions, please visit this web site
address: http://igwg.who.int/phi/ . For those without access to the Internet, submissions can be sent by fax at: +41 22 791 48 89. Submissions must not exceed five A4 pages. Contributors
are encouraged to provide a summary of their comments, which must not
exceed 500 words.
Daniela Bagozzi
Media Communications
Health Technology and Pharmaceuticals
World Health Organization
Tel. 41 22 791 45 44
Cel 41 79 475 54 90
bagozzid@who.int