[Ip-health] AFP: WHO assembly backs talks on 'neglected' disease research

[Sheila.SHETTLE@geneva.msf.org]

WHO assembly backs talks on 'neglected' disease research=0D
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Weekend =E2=80=A2 May 28, 2006=0D
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The World Health Organisation's member states agreed to launch talks on=0D
boosting research on "neglected" diseases, such as malaria and=0D
tuberculosis, after deciding that the structure of the pharmaceutical=0D
industry means that poor nations are disadvantaged.=0D
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The annual assembly of the 192-nation WHO backed efforts spearheaded by=0D
Brazil and Kenya to step up the fight against diseases which hit developing=
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countries hardest.=0D
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The assembly accepted a resolution which called on member states to "secure=
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enhanced and sustainable funding for developing and making accessible=0D
products to address diseases that disproportionately affect developing=0D
countries".=0D
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Member states should come up with a "global strategy and plan of action" in=
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time for the next WHO assembly in May 2007, the resolution said.=0D
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Saturday's move by the WHO's member states was part of the wider debate on=
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the vexed issue of drugs patents and research funding, which has provoked=
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disputes at past meetings of the UN health agency.=0D
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Critics charge that the current system, hingeing on patents and drug=0D
pricing to finance research and development (RetD), leaves huge health=0D
needs unmet.=0D
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"Intellectual property rights are an important incentive for the=0D
development of new health-care products", the resolution said.=0D
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"However...this incentive alone does not meet the need for development of=
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new products to fight diseases where the potential paying market is small=
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or uncertain."=0D
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"New thinking" is needed, the resolution said.=0D
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Activists hailed Saturday's decision.=0D
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"For the first time, were starting to see action that begins to mirror the=
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magnitude of the problems and needs that we witness everyday in our field=
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programmes", said Dr Tido von Schoen-Angerer, of the international medical=
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charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF).=0D
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"This is a crucial first step that will help us put in place new ways of=0D
stimulating RetD for health problems that so far industry has ignored", he=
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added.=0D
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MSF said that only 21 of the 1,556 drugs brought onto the global market=0D
from 1975-2004 were destined to fight "neglected" diseases.=0D
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Last month, a report by former Swiss President Ruth Dreifuss which was=0D
commissioned by the WHO pointed to flaws in the current system of research,=
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which steers investment towards areas of highest profitability.=0D
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The report, which was formally welcomed by the assembly on Saturday, also=
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called on the pharmaceutical industry to slash the price of drugs sold in=
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developing countries -- something companies insist they have already done=
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in many cases.=0D
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For the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and=0D
Associations, the price and patent issue falls outside the mandate of the=
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WHO and should instead be discussed only at the World Trade Organisation.=
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The latter adopted new rules in 2003 allowing poor countries to import=0D
cheap copies of patented drugs to tackle health crises, but no government=
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has so far taken advantage of them.=0D
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In previous years, rich countries which are home to the world's top=0D
pharmaceutical firms have sparred with poor nations which say their=0D
concerns are sidelined and want more flexibility to fight epidemics=0D
cheaply.=0D
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But campaigners said that such countries -- including the United States and=
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Switzerland -- had been "constructive and positive" at the WHO assembly=0D
this time. =E2=80=94 AFP=0D
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Sheila Shettle=0D
Communications Officer=0D
M=C3=A9decins Sans Fronti=C3=A8res=0D
Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines=0D
Rue de Lausanne 78=0D
1211 Geneva=0D
Switzerland=0D
+ 41.22.849.8403=0D
sheila.shettle@geneva.msf.org=0D
www.accessmed-msf.org=0D
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