[Ip-health] Intervention by USA at WHO Executive Board: WHO's role and responsibilities in health research

[Kevin Outterson]

Has there been any discernable change in US stance in Geneva since Jan 20th=
?


On 1/24/09 6:26 PM, "Thiru Balasubramaniam" <thiru@keionline.org> wrote:

> U.S. Statement
>
> WHO's  role and responsibilities in health research
> Agenda Item 4.9
>
> Mr. Chairman,
>
> The United States supports the WHO=B9s renewed commitment to research,
> as this builds on the Organization=B9s core function of =B3shaping a
> research agenda and stimulating the generation, translation and
> dissemination of valuable knowledge.=B2
>
> We support the draft strategy=B9s plan to strengthen the research
> culture across the WHO Secretariat through bolstering existing
> mechanisms for good research practice, the enhancement of the research-
> related competencies of relevant professional staff, and improvement
> in the management and coordination of WHO-affiliated research.
>
> However, we believe the expansion of research conducted by the WHO
> itself could lead to duplication of effort and dilute WHO=B9s resources
> as the Organization simultaneously assists Member States in the
> expansion of their own capacity to conduct research. Moreover, we
> believe the WHO Secretariat=B9s strength lies in the translation of
> research findings into technical guidance for Member States, rather
> than in conducting pure research itself.
>
> We also question the strategy=B9s portrayal of copyright and
> intellectual property issues. We do not see them as contributing to
> =B3the global inequality of access to health data, tools, materials, and
> literature=B2 as mentioned in paragraph 63 of the Annex. These
> mechanisms exist to assist researchers in gaining access to the
> materials they need to advance their research.
>
> For example, the public-access policy at the National Institutes of
> Health (NIH) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
> ensures the public has access to the published results of NIH-funded
> research. It requires scientists to submit final, peer-reviewed
> journal manuscripts that arise from NIH funds to the digital archive
> Pub Med Central upon acceptance for publication. To help advance
> science and improve human health, the policy requires these papers are
> accessible to the public on PubMed Central no later than twelve months
> after publication.
>
> Finally, we are concerned that the draft resolution presented by the
> Secretariat foresees a role for Member States to implement the
> research strategy, which is for the management and organization of
> research activities within WHO.
>
> We propose a simple resolution, as we have just adopted on the climate
> change work plan, to endorse the research strategy.
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> Thiru Balasubramaniam
> Geneva Representative
> Knowledge Ecology International (KEI)
> thiru@keionline.org
>
>
> Tel: +41 22 791 6727
> Mobile: +41 76 508 0997
>
>
>
>
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