Comparison between April 29, May 7, and May 10 versions of WHA 72 resolution on transparency

On Monday, May 13th, Politico published the latest version (May 10, 2019) of the transparency resolution noting the “dizzying number of brackets” in the latest text.

The original sponsors are: Italy, Greece, Malaysia, Portugal, Serbia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, and Uganda.

KEI has published a table comparing the three texts:

Diff, May 10, 7 and April 29, WHA Transparency Resolution

KEI’s comment on the negotiations that transpired on Friday, May 10th is as follows:

“The negotiations went somewhat better on Friday, Germany and France were the most hostile to advances on transparency. The United States position changed from Tuesday, and was more constructive, perhaps surprising some Northern European countries. Canada and some other countries became more active, and there was stronger participation from developing countries, compared to the Tuesday talks.

Germany, Denmark, Sweden and the UK thought they could kill the resolution last Tuesday, by offering blocking amendments and complaining that they did not have sufficient time to tackle such a complex topic. But the very negative reaction to the Tuesday negotiation by public health groups changed the dynamics quite a bit. On Friday, there was a broader acceptance that this topic will be before the WHA next week, and that some significant actions on transparency could well move forward,

There is a pretty wide range of possible outcomes, from nothing at all to something fairly far reaching, and everything in the middle. The drug company lobby against transparency is in full gear right now, and that should not be underestimated.” James Love, KEI Director.

The countries that proposed changes in the May 10 informal, and the number of comments or changes they proposed, were:

    Australia 8
    Austria 3
    Brazil 25
    Canada 12
    Denmark 14
    Ecuador 5
    France 8
    Germany, 32
    Greece 5
    Hungary 1
    India 12
    Italy 8
    Japan 6
    Netherlands 2
    Poland 2
    Spain 8
    Sweden, 10
    Switzerland 12
    Uganda 7
    UK 12
    USA 37