[Ip-health] Lancet: editorial on IGWG + letter on pharma-funded patient groups

[James ARKINSTALL]

=0D
Dear all=0D
=0D
Please find below excerpts from:=0D
- a Lancet editorial on the Intergovernmental Working Group on Public=0D
Health, Innovation and IP (IGWG)=0D
- and a letter from representatives from Thailand, India, Maldives and Sri=
=0D
Lanka on the question on industry funding of patient advocacy organisations=
=0D
during the IGWG web hearings.=0D
=0D
For the full texts, freely available after registration, please see=0D
lancet.com:=0D
=0D
Editorial:=0D
IGWG suspended but must not stall=0D
=0D
"...as highlighted at the closing session by a representative from the=0D
Kenyan delegation, there must be tangible progress before the next meeting.=
=0D
People living in poor countries have the most to gain from the global=0D
strategy and plan of action but they also have the most to lose. The IGWG=
=0D
process must not be allowed to fail or falter however contentious the=0D
issues, and however forceful, or manipulative, the opposition."=0D
=0D
Letter:=0D
WHO=E2=80=99s web-based public hearings: hijacked by pharma?=0D
=0D
"To facilitate input from interested organisations, individuals, and the=0D
public, web-based public hearings were organised by the IGWG secretariat.=
=0D
On review of the second round of such public hearings, we were disturbed by=
=0D
what we found....we have serious doubts as to the motives and the=0D
credibility of these submissions to the public hearings."=0D