Intellectual Property Watch Covers News From Ongoing World Health Assembly

Intellectual Property Watch: WHO Official: Medicines Should Not Be Priced At The Value Of A Life
“Member governments of the World Health Organization are increasingly talking about how to bring about ‘fair’ pricing of medicines. And what’s clear is that it should not be based on how much you would pay to save your life, a senior WHO official said [last] week…” (New, 5/26).

Intellectual Property Watch: World Health Assembly Adopts Resolution To Fight Sepsis; Antimicrobial Resistance Major Threat
“Antimicrobial resistance is a growing health concern as was acknowledged by countries at the World Health Assembly [last] week, and a resolution was adopted to fight sepsis, which is a life-threatening blood stream infection for which there is growing resistance…” (Saez, 5/26).

Intellectual Property Watch: Unlikely Alliance Of India, U.S. Could Keep Medicines Access On WHO Agenda
“It is not often that on the matter of access to medicines, India and the United States agree at the World Health Organization. But the issue of access to medicines is rising on the international agenda and developed countries are feeling the bite of prices of new medicines…” (Saez, 5/28).

Intellectual Property Watch: Review Of WHO Public Health And IP Strategy: Help Needed On TRIPS Flexibilities
“International organizations, in particular the World Health Organization, should help poor countries implement the flexibilities enshrined in international trade rules, a number of developing countries said at the World Health Assembly on 26 May…” (Saez, 5/28).

Intellectual Property Watch: Health R&D Still Underfunded — WHO Members Concerned, NGOs Call For More Ambition
“Hopes of stimulating research and development for diseases affecting primarily poor countries and vulnerable populations, through a strategic work plan at the World Health Organization, are dimmed by the lack of funding…” (Saez, 5/29).

Intellectual Property Watch: Cancer Drugs: Innovation ‘Blackmail’ Leads To Unaffordable Prices, Delinkage Needed, Speakers Say
“…Tragic stories and the possibilities to avert them were center stage at a panel last week on the margin of the ongoing World Health Assembly. Delinking the cost of research and development from the market prices of medicines was urged by speakers on the panel: representatives of cancer patients, civil society, and a senior Brazilian official…” (Saez, 5/30).

Intellectual Property Watch: Challenges Remain For Worldwide Immunization By Vaccination
“Even though important milestones in the elimination of rubella and measles have been achieved worldwide, key challenges remain, presenters said during a technical briefing organized by the World Health Organization last week…” (Saez, 5/30).

The KFF Daily Global Health Policy Report summarized news and information on global health policy from hundreds of sources, from May 2009 through December 2020. All summaries are archived and available via search.

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