[Random-bits] EC asked to investigate possible undue influence by pharmaceutical industry lobbyists on WHA R&D resolution

[James Love]

From: Michelle Childs <michelle.childs@cptech.org>
Date: May 26, 2006 7:36:24 AM EDT
To: ip-health@lists.essential.org
Subject: [Ip-health] EC asked to investigate possible undue influence
by pharmaceutical industry lobbyists on WHA R&D resolution

26 May 2006

Dear President Barroso:

We ask that your office undertake an investigation to determine if
the European Commission position on an important public health issue
was unduly influenced by the pharmaceutical industry.

This week the World Health Assembly (WHA) is meeting in Geneva, and
considering draft resolution EB117.r13. As first proposed by Kenya
and Brazil, the resolution concerns the need for a new "Global
framework on essential health research and development." In the
January 2006 negotiations on this resolution, the text was highly
bracketed, including even the title.

The core idea put forth in EB117.r13 was to create a committee of
member states to discuss proposals for a new global framework for
essential health R&D. In the original version of the resolution, this
would address issues of the sustainable sources of funding for
medical R&D, the sharing of R&D costs, and the mechanisms and
incentives to support R&D in areas of priority.

There is considerable support for this proposal, as evidenced in the
past two years by major appeals on the need for new multilateral
mechanisms to address these issues[1].

This initiative was welcomed by Commissioner Kyprianou, in a March
17, 2006 letter to John Bowis, MEP. This week in Geneva, the European
Commission asserted competence on this issue, and adopted a position,
which was deeply hostile to the Kenya/Brazil initiative.

A number of important public health groups following the WHA debate
on the R&D resolution were shocked by the EC's position. They have
prepared a document that compared the EC's position with a written
critique of the resolution by pharmaceutical company lobbyists.[2] A
review of this document shows startling similarities between the two
positions. As this matter involves issues of public health, and will
have particular importance to many persons living in poverty, we ask
that you investigate, to determine if the European Commission's
position has been inappropriately influenced by the pharmaceutical
industry.

Yours sincerely,

Michelle Childs, Consumer Project on Technology- Europe
Colleen Daniels, Health Action International-Europe, The Netherlands
Gaelle Krikorian, researcher associated to CRESP, France
Dr. David McCoy, Global HealthWatch, London, UK

cc: Commissioner Kyprianou
Mr John Bowis OBE, MEP

Notes :
[1] See, for example:
February 2005 to the WHO EB and CIPIH requesting an evaluation of
proposals for a medical R&D treaty, signed by 162 scientists, public
health experts, law professors, economists, government officials,
members of parliaments, NGOs and others. (http://www.cptech.org/
workingdrafts/24feb05WHOen.pdf)

January 2006 Scientist's letter to the WHO EB, signed by five
Nobel Laureates in Physiology or Medicine and 285 other
scientists from 51 countries. (http://www.whoscientistsletter.org/)

The May 2006, R&D Appeal launched by the Drugs for Neglected Diseases
initiative (DNDi), signed by more than 5,000 scientists, policy-
makers, industry and NGO members (including 19 Nobel laureates).
(http://www.dndi.org/cms/public_html/insidearticleListing.asp?
CategoryId=166&SubCategoryId=167&ArticleId=390&TemplateId=1)

May 19, 2006. Letter signed by Congressmen Allen, Burton, Doggett,
Sanders and Kucinich, to to DHHS Secretary Leavitt. (http://
www.cptech.org/ip/health/who/59wha/congress05192006.pdf)

May 18, 2006. Statement signed by 64 Members of the European
Parliament, regarding the call for a global framework on essential
health research and development. (http://www.cptech.org/ip/health/who/
59wha/meps05182006.pdf)

[2] http://www.cptech.org/rnd/ec-industry-compared-rnd.pdf


Contact : If you wish to discuss the contents of this letter please
contact in the first instance Michelle Childs, Head of European
Affairs,Cptech
--


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---------------------------------
James Love, CPTech / www.cptech.org / mailto:james.love@cptech.org /
tel. +1.202.332.2670 / mobile +1.202.361.3040

"If everyone thinks the same: No one thinks."  Bill Walton