[Ip-health] MSF Access Campaign is recruiting a Medical Innovation Policy Adviser
Mai DO
Mai.DO@paris.msf.org
Wed Jun 10 12:30:02 2009
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Medical Innovation Policy Adviser=0D
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M=C3=89DECINS SANS FRONTI=C3=88RES=0D
Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines=0D
www.msfaccess.org=0D
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TERMS OF REFERENCE=0D
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Title: Medical Innovation and Access Policy=
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Adviser=0D
Based: Geneva=0D
Duration Full time/ long-term contract=0D
Reporting to: Director of Policy Advocacy=0D
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BACKGROUND=0D
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M=C3=A9decins Sans Fronti=C3=A8res (MSF) is a leading international, in=
dependent,=0D
medical, humanitarian organisation, dedicated to providing expert medical=
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humanitarian=0D
assistance to vulnerable populations at times of conflict or disaster. In=
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over 60 countries worldwide, MSF provides both life-saving emergency relief=
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and longer-term=0D
assistance to make basic healthcare services available to the most=
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vulnerable or excluded communities.=0D
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M=C3=A9decins Sans Fronti=C3=A8res set up the MSF Access Campaign in 1999 =
to improve=0D
access to existing medical tools (medicines, diagnostics, vaccines) and to=
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stimulate=0D
the development=0D
of urgently needed better tools for people in countries where MSF works.=0D
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>From the start we faced two major challenges =E2=80=93 the high cost of =
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medicines and the absence of treatments for many of the diseases affecting=
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our patients.=0D
Our response has been on the one hand to challenge the high costs of=
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existing drugs or outdated treatment policies. On the other hand we have=
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worked to stimulate=0D
research into new medical tools for neglected diseases such as=
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tuberculosis, and malaria.=0D
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There is growing recognition, most recently with the completion of the=
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World Health Organization Intergovernmental Working Group on Public Health,=
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Innovation and=0D
Intellectual Property (IGWG) on a Global Strategy and Plan of Action, that=
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in order to meet the needs of people in resource poor settings, policies=
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must address both ways=0D
to stimulate innovation for new tools, but also to ensure access to the=
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resulting products. Yet as more and more newer drugs are being patented in=
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key generic=0D
producing countries, generic competition will no longer automatically be=
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able to act as the catalyst for price reductions as it did in the recent=
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past. New ways to keep=0D
medicines affordable must be set in motion. There will need to be an=
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increased focus on the use of compulsory licences or other ways to overcome=
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barriers to affordable=0D
access and innovation, such as UNITAID=E2=80=99s proposal for a patent pool=
for HIV=0D
medicines.=0D
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There is also a need to address the flaws in the current system of research=
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and development which relies primarily with huge detrimental consequences -=
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on companies=0D
recouping their R&D investments through charging high prices, and=
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protecting that price through patent monopolies. Not only does this mean=
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that some drugs, diagnostics=0D
and vaccines remain completely out of reach for many patients, it also=
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means that diseases like TB or paediatric HIV that mostly affect the poor=
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don=E2=80=99t get anywhere near=0D
the attention and investment into research as diseases that have bigger,=
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more lucrative markets. Alternative financing mechanisms for research and=
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development (R&D)=0D
that reward R&D =E2=80=93 but do not rely on charging high prices =E2=80=
=93that stimulate=0D
more innovation and at the same time ensure affordable access to the=
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product are needed.=0D
A number of such proposals are currently under discussion for example=
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innovation inducement prize funds.=0D
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This position will initially focus on building on the Access Campaign=
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work in this area, by critically analysing new proposals to stimulate=
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innovation and access, and also=0D
promoting specific alternative proposals such as prize funds and patent=
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pools.=0D
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JOB PROFILE=0D
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Objectives:=0D
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- To provide analysis and strategic advice on policy developments=
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relevant to innovation and access to essential health technologies=0D
- Gather and analyse the research and development needs emanating from=
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the field teams to inform the Campaign=E2=80=99s advocacy work=0D
- Support the strategy development and advocacy for the establishment=
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of new policy mechanisms that can stimulate innovation and access to=
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essential health=0D
technologies at the international level.=0D
- Stimulate public debate around appropriate innovation and access to=
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new health technologies (articles, meetings campaigns, media work)=0D
- The Policy Adviser will also be expected to support the Policy=
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Advocacy Director and collaborate with other team members.=0D
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Main responsibilities and tasks:=0D
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- Building on work previously undertaken, develop the Campaign=
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knowledge and expertise of policies/initiatives related to innovation and=
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access, and analyse=0D
their ability to meet the needs of resource poor settings.=0D
- Support the strategy development and advocacy for the establishment=
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of new policy mechanisms that can stimulate innovation and access, for=
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example establishment=0D
of a prize fund for TB diagnostics and a patent pool for HIV medicines=0D
- Advise and implement actions and strategies to influence policies=
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that may be detrimental for access and innovation and to promote positive=
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measures to improve=0D
access to medicines or innovation.=0D
- Prepare background documents and briefing notes on the impact of new=
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research and development proposals on meeting the needs of resource poor=
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settings.=0D
- Present MSF Access Campaign position on innovation and access in=
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external meetings=0D
- Foster and maintain a network of policy makers, NGOs, umbrella groups=
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and academics working in the international health field on these issues=0D
- Work with the Communications Department to highlight MSF concerns,=
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including the development of campaigns to engage members of MSF and the=
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broader public in=0D
supporting proposals for alternative mechanisms.=0D
- Contribute to the strengthening of the Policy Advocacy team systems,=
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in collaboration with team colleagues.=0D
- Contribute to efforts to promote key campaign issues, on occasion=
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substituting for other Policy advisors, if appropriate.=0D
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EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE=0D
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Essential requirements:=0D
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- Either: a degree in a relevant subject area (Law, economics,=
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International relations, public health) plus two years experience of=
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advocacy/ campaigning at the international level=0D
- Or at least 4 years experience of international advocacy related to=
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health issues with a demonstrable network of contacts with relevant policy=
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makers, NGOs, academics in the=0D
international health field.=0D
- Proven representation, communication and negotiation skills combined=
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with a willingness to act as a spokesperson.=0D
- Knowledge/experience of current issues relating to international=
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health and access to medicines and innovation.=0D
- Fluency in English.=0D
- Ability to work independently; capacity to take initiatives and seize=
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opportunities.=0D
- Availability to travel to both other MSF offices, field projects and=
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relevant meetings.=0D
- Computer literate (Word, Excel, Internet).=0D
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Desirable requirements:=0D
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- Fluency in French.=0D
- Experience of working with the media.=0D
- Experience in development of public facing campaigns.=0D
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HOW TO APPLY=0D
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Closing date for applications: 30 June 2009=0D
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To apply send your CV and a letter of motivation to:=0D
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Ms. Mai Do=0D
Human Resources Officer=0D
Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines=0D
M=C3=A9decins Sans Fronti=C3=A8res=0D
8 rue Saint Sabin=0D
75011 Paris=0D
France=0D
E-mail: mdo@msf.org