[Ip-health] MSF statement at the end of week of IGWG II negotiations

[James ARKINSTALL]

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MSF STATEMENT AT END OF WEEK OF IGWG NEGOTIATIONS=0D
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Geneva, 10th November 2007 =E2=80=93=0D
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Representatives from Ministries of Health gathered in Geneva this week for=
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the second round of negotiations of the Intergovernmental Working Group for=
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Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property (IGWG).  They were=0D
charged with coming up with a strategy and plan of action to ensure new=0D
medical products are developed, and existing ones are made affordable.=0D
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The meeting has been suspended after delegates ran out of time after six=0D
days of negotiations, and will resume in early 2008.=0D
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MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES/DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS COMMENTS AT THE END OF THE=
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MEETING:=0D
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=E2=80=9CWhat is most encouraging is that governments have decided that bus=
iness as=0D
usual won=E2=80=99t do anymore,=E2=80=9D said Michel Lotrowska, Campaigner =
at MSF=E2=80=99s Access=0D
to Essential Medicines Campaign. =E2=80=9CThey are open to exploring entire=
ly new=0D
ways of financing essential health research, in such a way that the fruits=
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of innovation are accessible to those who need it the most.  One example is=
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the decision to pursue discussions on an essential health and biomedical=0D
R&D treaty.=E2=80=9D=0D
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=E2=80=9CWe are getting a sense that countries are pushing WHO to be more a=
ctive in=0D
resolving the access to medicines crisis, and take a pro-health approach to=
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intellectual property.  And governments are taking steps to address the=0D
fundamental reasons why investment into innovation for diseases of the poor=
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is lacking,=E2=80=9D said Lotrowska. =E2=80=9CAs a medical organisation, we=
 need an R&D=0D
system that allows both medical innovation and access.=E2=80=9D=0D
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For further information and to arrange interviews, please contact:=0D
Ms. Clio Van Cauter: +41 79 293 02 70  or +41 22 849 8403