Knowledge Ecology International

WTO TRIPS Council (February 2015): Norway and the United States bring gender mainstreaming to the fore-Women and Innovation

Posted on February 4, 2015 by Thiru

The first session of the 2015 World Trade Organization’s TRIPS Council takes place from 24 February 2015 to 25 February 2015. Like clockwork, the United States has tabled the inclusion of an additional item on Intellectual Property and Innovation. This marks the 8th time since November 2012 that the United States has submitted the inclusion of an additional agenda item to the TRIPS Council relating to intellectual property or innovation.

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UACT letter to Professor DiMasi, asking for answer to five questions about new R&D cost study

Posted on February 4, 2015 by Manon Ress

February 4, 2015 is World Cancer Day. The rapidly increasing cost of cancer drugs should be broadly discussed. The Union for Affordable Cancer Treatment (UACT), a union of people affected by cancer (http://cancerunion.org/) is asking the author and co-author of the “Tufts Cost Study,” –a not-yet-released “study” used to justify high prices of drugs without providing data– to address the following questions:

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EB 136 Draft decision passed on the Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Public Health, Innovation, and Intellectual Property

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Claire Cassedy

On Tuesday February 3, 2015, the final day of the 136th WHO Executive Board meeting, the EB passed a draft decision on the Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Public Health, Innovation, and Intellectual Property (GSPoA). The draft decision recommends to the WHA that the GSPOA be extended until 2022. Continue Reading →

EB 136 Friday, January 30th: Discussion of Consultative Expert Working Group on Research Development-Financing and Coordination

Posted on January 31, 2015 by Claire Cassedy

Another matter considered during the Friday, January 30th session of the WHO Executive Board was the “Follow-up of the report on the Consultative Expert Working Group on Research Development-Financing and Coordination.” In addition to the general report on the CEWG, the EB also considered the Director General’s report on the CEWG “Health research and development demonstration projects.”

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EB 136 Friday, January 30th: Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Public Health, Innovation, and Intellectual Property

Posted on January 30, 2015 by Claire Cassedy

On Friday, January 30th, the WHO Executive Board discussed the Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Public Health, Innovation, and Intellectual Property (GSPA). The discussion covered several documents in relation to the GSPoA, including:

GSPoA Draft decision proposed by Argentina, Brazil, India, and South Africa

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EB 136 Tuesday January 28: WHO Engagement with Non-state Actors; US issues apology to the African Group

Posted on January 28, 2015 by Claire Cassedy

During Tuesday’s session of the WHO Executive Board, the board considered a proposal from Argentina on the table for a “Framework of Engagement with Non-state Actors.” Many states, both Board members and non-Executive Board member states, contributed to the discussion, citing the issue as a critical reform issue for the WHO. While a number of states took issue with some of the specifics of the draft proposal, for example that at current time all types of non-state actors were lumped together (i.e. Continue Reading →

Argentina, Brazil, India and South Africa- Draft decision to extend mandate of Global Strategy and Plan of Action till 2022

Posted on January 27, 2015 by Thiru

On Tuesday, 27 January 2015, Argentina, Brazil, India and South Africa tabled a draft decision to extend the mandate of the Global strategy and plan of action and public health, innovation and intellectual property (EB136/CONF.7) until 2022. We expect that this draft decision will be discussed on Thursday, 29 January 2015 under agenda item 10.5, Global strategy and plan of action on public health, innovation and intellectual property. Continue Reading →

EB 136 WHO Special Session: Unanimous Ebola Resolution [finally reached on Sunday]

Posted on January 26, 2015 by Claire Cassedy

On Sunday January 25, 2015, the WHO Executive Board unanimously approved the resolution, “Ebola: Ending the current outbreak, strengthening global preparedness, and ensuring WHO capacity to prepare for and respond to future large-scale outbreaks and emergencies with health consequences.” Though unanimous in the end, negotiations for the resolution took 4 days, the Friday session lasting until 5:45am on Saturday morning.

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WTO TRIPS Council (October 2014): Bangladesh statement (on behalf of LDCs)- Extension of the 2016 transition period

Posted on January 13, 2015 by Thiru

At the WTO TRIPS Council in October 2014, Bangladesh, on behalf of the LDC Group, delivered the following intervention on “Extension of the Transition Period Under Article 66.1 of the TRIPS Agreement for Least-Developed Country Members for Certain Obligations with Respect to Pharmaceutical Products.” The current transition period incorporate two WTO decisions, TRIPS Council decision, IP/C/25 (Extension of the Transition Period under Article 66.1 of the TRIPS Agreement for Least-Developed Country Members for Certain Obligat Continue Reading →

EB136: WHO outlines contours of a Pooled Fund for Global Health Research and Development

Posted on December 22, 2014 by Thiru

In May 2014, the World Health Organization’s member countries passed decision 67(15) instructing WHO Director-General Margaret Chan to explore, with TDR, the possibility of hosting a pooled funding mechanism for R&D. Continue Reading →

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