[Ip-health] Brief summary of WHA, May 19th, 2004

[thiru@cptech.org]

This afternoon, Committee A of the World Health Assembly met to consider
extending to January 2006 the time limit set out in resolution WHA56.27
for completion of the work of the Commission on Intellectual Property
Rights, Innovation and Public Health.

Committee A agreed to extend the time limit to January 2006, as requested
by WHO=92s Commission on Intellectual Property Rights, Innovation and Publi=
c
Health (CIPIH).

Here is a brief summary of my notes of certain interventions by WHO Member
States at this meeting followed by some quotes from two NGO delegates to
the WHA.

Thirukumaran Balasubramaniam
CPTech
Geneva

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The Brazilian representative commended the WHO for creating the CIPIH at
the request of the Assembly last year.  The delegate noted with concern
that bilateral and regional free trade agreements could vitiate the
flexibilities and benefits afforded to WTO Members under the TRIPS
Agreement and the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public
Health.

The Japanese representative called for greater transparency in the CIPIH
process and called for WIPO to be actively involved in the workings of the
Commission.

The Indian representative noted that national laws should incorporate the
Doha Declaration and opposed bilateral free trade agreements with TRIPS
plus obligations.

The Thai representative requested the WHO Secretariat to expand its work
in analyzing the implications of international trade agreements on access
to medicines.

The Venezuelan representative noted with concern the lack of emphasis on
poverty reduction.

The WHO Secretariat noted that there was a CIPIH website with all the
relevant details for interested parties.  The Secretariat informed the
Assembly that WIPO had nominated two of its staff members to work closely
with the CIPIH.  The Secretariat also noted that CIPIH was also
collaborating with the WTO and other international organizations.

The representative from Pakistan posed a technical question to the
Secretariat on how access to raw materials for the production of
pharmaceuticals would be affected under a compulsory license.

The Secretariat noted that its technical experts would address this
question in another forum.

Here are some thoughts from Spring Gombe of Health Action International.

"Unfortunately, we did not get a chance to comment on the CIPIH report as
the item had ben moved up on the agenda at the last minute."

"However, we are very pleased that the Commission has involved civil
society in its work."

"Regarding the tabled resolution on HIV/AIDS, we strongly support the UN
pre-qualification project.  We support the expansion of the
pre-qualification project.   However, we remain concerned at
disinformation campaigns which aim to discredit the UN pre-qualification
project."

Here is a quote from Wilbert Bannenberg, consultant to M=E9decins sans
Fronti=E8res.

"The most important outcome of this afternoon's session was that the CIPIH
received a one year extension on presenting its report to the Executive
Board."