[Ip-health] MSF at WHO Exec Board: Sttmt on IGWG Global Strategy and Plan of Action

[James ARKINSTALL]

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Please find below the intervention by MSF at the 124th WHO Executive Board=
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last week, highlighting certain concerns with WHO's follow up to the=0D
Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Public Health, Innovation and=0D
Intellectual Property, since its adoption in May last year.=0D
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MSF INTERNATIONAL=0D
Intervention on Agenda item 4.13 =E2=80=93 Public Health, Innovation and=0D
Intellectual Property: Global Strategy and Plan of Action=0D
WHO 124th Executive Board, January 2009=0D
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Thank you Chair.=0D
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In May last year the World Health Assembly adopted Resolution 61.21=E2=80=
=93 a=0D
move described by the Director-General as a =E2=80=98major breakthrough for=
 public=0D
health=E2=80=99, and as =E2=80=98pro-active public health at its very best=
=E2=80=99.=0D
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MSF has continued to engage in this area across a range of issues that=0D
meet our medical  needs a for innovation and access, including=0D
co-sponsoring a new initiative to conduct clinical trials for=0D
multidrug-resistant TB, providing support to UNITAID to explore the=0D
establishment of a patent pool, contributing to the UN consultation on a=0D
medicines patent database, and co-financing DNDi, the product development=
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partnership jointly set up with public research institutes from both South=
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and North.=0D
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EB124/16 contains a report outlining the progress accomplished to date.=0D
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Further work is needed. Specific actions are necessary from WHO and Member=
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States to proactively implement the Global Strategy and Plan of Action.=0D
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The indicators adopted as a part of the Global Plan of Action are=0D
quantitative, when qualitative indicators are also required.  It=E2=80=99s =
not=0D
just the number or the process that needs to be measured, it is the effect=
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and the impact.=0D
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The Quick Start Programme lists a number of activities that WHO =E2=80=93=
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irrespective of the Global Strategy and Plan of Action - is already=0D
implementing in existing work plans.  It is important to see what new and=
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additional activities WHO is planning. The Global Strategy is about change=
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- not about business as usual.=0D
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MSF has high expectations of the Expert Working Group on research and=0D
development and finance.  It must identify new sources of funding and=0D
develop in-depth analysis and concrete proposals for alternative financing=
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mechanisms, such as the proposal to WHO by developing country for a prize=
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fund for a TB diagnostic or new tools for Chagas.  These must be=0D
sufficiently developed so that they can be adopted by the WHA in 2010.=0D
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Following concerns surrounding the first meeting, transparent criteria=0D
need to be established for the selection of experts invited to provide=0D
testimonies directly to the Expert Working Group.=0D
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We recall that in successive Resolutions, the need for the involvement of=
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all stakeholders has been highlighted.  The Expert Group needs to hear the=
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perspective of all stakeholders on the priority research gaps in=0D
resource-poor settings and on proposals to both foster innovation and=0D
ensure access to medicines.  A process should be established for the=0D
continuing involvement of public interest NGOs.=0D
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Finally, WHO should clarify how it plans to build on the discussions of=0D
the Expert Group, and when further meetings will be held.=0D
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Mr Chair, the Director-General is right that this is a unique opportunity=
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for =E2=80=98proactive public health at its very best=E2=80=99.  For this o=
pportunity be=0D
realised, it will require the full support of Member States and WHO.   MSF=
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is ready to continue to engage with all relevant stakeholders to ensure=0D
that relevant innovation takes place and that all who need it have access=
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to it.=0D
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Thank you.=0D
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James ARKINSTALL=0D
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Senior Communications Officer=0D
M=C3=A9decins Sans Fronti=C3=A8res - Campaign for Access to Essential Medic=
ines=0D
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www.msfaccess.org=0D
+33 1 40 21 2837=0D