[Ip-health] WHO Eastern Mediterranean countries want discussion of patent pools and new R&D incentives

[Thiru Balasubramaniam]

WHO Eastern Mediterranean countries want discussion of patent pools and
new R&D incentives

6 December 2006


Thiru Balasubramaniam

Upon request of the African Group, two further "areas for action" were
added to the WHO "Elements of a global strategy and plan of action"
(A/PHI/IGWG/1/4 Add.1) of the WHO Intergovernmental Working Group on
Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property. These were
"transfer of technology to improve innovation capacity" and the
"management of intellectual property".

The Islamic Republic of Iran, on behalf of the WHO Eastern
Mediterranean Region, which includes (Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Jordan,
Lebanon, Morocco, Pakistan, Somalia, Sudan , and the Syrian Arab
Republic) noted the discussions on the second day which touched upon
patent pools and global medical R&D treaty. Specifically, EMRO
countries called on the IGWG to include in its "Elements of a global
strategy and plan of action" a requirement to

     "Explore and establish alternative systems of incentives to promote
public health objectives".


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Thiru Balasubramaniam
Geneva Representative
CPTech
voice +41.22.791.6727
fax +41.22.723.2988
mobile +41 76 508 0997
thiru@cptech.org