[Ip-health] Friday's NGO quotes on R&D resolution

[James Love]

From: Thiru Balasubramaniam <thiru@cptech.org>
Date: May 26, 2006 12:53:08 PM EDT
Subject: NGO quotes for today

Friday...May 26, 2006

Cailin Morrison: WHA Member States are finally beginning to recognize
that there is a need for a global plan of action to address the
problems of essential health research development and delivery. It is
critical that this recognition of the problems translates into
practical solutions without delay.

Dr. Mira Shiva (HAI Asia Pacific): "The main concern we have is what
does the drafting group mean by the term "medium term framework" and
what would be the mandate of this intergovernmental working group. If
the bilateral trade agreements continue to neutralize national and
international public health policies and regulations, it would be
extremely unfortunate for society at large. Addressing the bilateral
trade agreements, especially when they relate to public health is
part of the WHO mandate, as outlined in the WHO Revised Drug Strategy
and the WHO Medicines Strategy."

Dr. Tido von Schoen-Angerer (MSF): "I think we are moving in the
right direction. I am pretty excited."

Gaelle Krikorian (Research Associate, CRESP): "People have to
understand that what the Kenyans and Brazilians have tried to achieve
today is to promote a new approach to think constructively on setting
health priorities in essential health research and development. The
goal is not only to find a stop gap solution to certain diseases that
are affecting some populations in some countries bur rather to create
a sustainable new system that could address global public health needs."

Michelle Childs (CPTech): "A key outcome is the establishment of a
working group to develop a global strategy and a plan of action. It
is important that the momentum is not lost and that this working
group delivers tangible outcomes."

Alexandra Heumber (MSF): "It is very welcome for the first time that
the relationship between IPRs, innovation and public health has been
debated at the WHA, the supreme decision making body of the WHO. This
followed up the initiative of the CIPIH and took into account the
recommendations coming out of the CIPIH report, particularly
recommendations related to the lack of essential health R&D. It
proves the real need to find new mechanisms to provide new medicines,
vaccines and tools to treat diseases that mainly target developing
countries. Hopefully, the agreement that will be reached by the 192
Member States of the WHO, in spite of divergences between Member
States, notably the unfavourable European Commission position this
week, will be a good first step in the beginning of a long process
which will result in concrete steps to address priority health needs."

Colleen Daniels (coordinator of the HAI Essential Innovations):"Let's
just hope that all actors involved see the opportunities presented by
the constitution of the intergovernmental working group and not the
forum to defend positions that are no longer tenable."

James Love (Consumer Project on Technology): "It appears as though
the WHA is about to do something that no one thought was possible a
year ago. Countries north and south are working together to create a
new international framework to address priorities for essential
medical R&D. The deal is not perfect, it is unhelpfully focused on
"diseases" rather than health care problems, and the WHA avoided more
explicit references to the need to refashion R&D incentives to ensure
access, or to promote more openness in scientific research. But it is
an impressive and tangible start. There is much credit to go around,
starting with several dedicated public health advocates, most
importantly Nicoletta Dentico and Ellen 't Hoen, but also many others
from the NGO community, public health leaders from Kenya and Brazil,
who set their sights high, and provided the leadership that changed
minds everywhere, and scientists Tim Hubbard and Sir John Sulston.
The United States delegation, led by Bill Steiger, also provided
constructive and positive contributions, as did delegations from many
other countries, including the Netherlands, Italy, Norway, New
Zealand, Switzerland, Thailand and South Africa. We were disappointed
at the hostile attitude of the European Commission, but this too was
moderated by the more forward looking delegations from some EC member
states.


---------------------------------
James Love, CPTech / www.cptech.org / mailto:james.love@cptech.org /
tel. +1.202.332.2670 / mobile +1.202.361.3040

"If everyone thinks the same: No one thinks."  Bill Walton