The World Health Organization just published a report on this week’s second meeting of the WHO Expert Working Group (EWG) on R&D Financing.
The first meeting of the WHO EWG, in January 2009, was shrouded in secrecy, with news about the event only released after the fact. According to documents now on the WHO web page, the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations (IFPMA), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Global Forum for Health Research, The George Institute for International Health, ESSENCE Initiative and Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research and some other groups had the opportunity to present their perspectives to the EWG, and attend the EWG meeting. One common feature — no groups attending the 1st EWG were considered critical of strong IPR regimes.
Despite several requests, the second meeting did not allow presentations by or the presence of the public or Member States. Only members of the WHO staff that were hand picked by the WHO Secretariat could attend.
The WHO report on the EWG second meeting was very brief, and gave only a few details of its work. [For earlier civil society expressions of concern about the EWG process, see here and here].
Source: http://www.who.int/phi/2ndewg_rdfinancing/en/index.html
Second meeting of the WHO Expert Working Group on R&D FinancingThe Expert Working Group (EWG) held its second meeting this week. In its meeting, the Group continued its discussions on current financing and coordination of R&D, including the review of the results of the report on Global Funding of Innovation for Neglected Diseases (G-Finder), and it further reviewed the outcomes and findings of other ongoing relevant international initiatives on financing, such as those of Working Group 2 of the High Level Task Force on innovative financing for health systems and The I-8 Group / L.I.F.E. (Leading Innovative Financing for Equity).
The EWG also discussed innovative frameworks for financing R&D as well as examining the coordination of R&D. It reviewed in detail the contributions from its members . The EWG members had received and examined the contributions from member states and also those from other stakeholders that had been solicited through the public hearing. The EWG then further elaborated a process for extended analysis of current R&D financing mechanisms which would include the submitted proposals and other key financing proposals in circulation.
This process will envisage the opportunity for inputs from a wider interested public including member states, individuals, civil society groups, government institutions, academic and research institutions, the private sector and other interested parties. In addition, the EWG plans to provide updates on the work in progress from time to time.
The EWG also discussed a framework for its final report to be presented to the Director-General which would adhere strictly to the mandate established in accordance with the Resolution WHA 61.21 on Global strategy and plan of action on public health, innovation and intellectual property.
Geneva, 1 July 2009
The following are some items that could and probably should be added to this quite short report.
- An Agenda of the meeting
- A list of participants.
- The presentations made and documents distributed
- More information on the process that has been elaborated to analyze proposals, including the names of consultants and WHO staff that have been asked to work on this evaluation.
- Date and location of next meetings
Additional reporting on the EWG meeting here:
Health R&D Experts Conclude Meeting With Few Details But Signal More Openness, Kaitlin Mara, ip-watch, 1 July 2009