At the World Health Organization’s 74th World Health Assembly, Knowledge Ecology International delivered the following remarks on “Public health emergencies: preparedness and response” on Monday, 31 May 2021. Non-state actors are limited to one minute statements.
Knowledge Ecology International asks the WHO’s COVID-19 Technology Access Pool (C-TAP) to
- publish model agreements for the sharing of rights in inventions, data, biologic resources and know-how, including the components of full technology transfer that C-TAP is seeking for each relevant technology.
- hold bi-weekly public briefings, where news media can hold the Secretariat, WHO member states, manufacturers, and rights holders accountable.
- consult with member states and propose best practices for transparency of R&D funding agreements, licenses and technology transfer agreements.
KEI welcomes the establishment of WHO COVID-19 mRNA vaccine technology transfer hub, and asks WHO to publish and periodically revise reports on global manufacturing capacity for each relevant COVID-19 medical technology, with commentary on measures necessary to bring facilities into GMP compliance.