This is the statement that the government of Bolivia delivered today to the 62nd World Health Assembly at the conclusion of the discussions on the Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property (WHA 61.21).
Statement of Bolivia on resolving outstanding elements of agenda item 12.8
Joint Statement on behalf of
Bangladesh, Barbados, Bolivia and Suriname, and
Cuba, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Venezuela
We do welcome the approval of the resolution in item 12.8 of our agenda, but allow me to express the position of several countries that were involved on the last minute negotiations of yesterday, bearing in mind that the Chair has kindly expressed the concerns we raised regarding process to be included in the records of this meeting, we will focus on the content of our discussions.
The 62nd World Health Assembly stands at a crossroads. WHA 61.21 resolution marked a breaking point in the architecture of global public health where WHO Member States recognized the exigent need to address innovation and access. This was made manifest in the passage of the Global Strategy on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property.
For our delegations, a central issue of the Global Strategy is sub-element 2.3(c) which “encourages further exploratory discussions in the utility of possible instruments or mechanisms for essential health and biomedical R&D, including inter alia, an essential health and biomedical R&D treaty.”
As reiterated earlier this week in the joint intervention of Bangladesh, Barbados, Bolivia and Suriname, our governments submitted a “Proposal for WHO Discussions on a Biomedical R&D Treaty” that contained possible elements of such a treaty and a schedule for taking the discussions forward on the 15th of April 2009. The proposal was a development of the historical consensus reached by WHO Member States. As well as other WHO members, such as Cuba, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Venezuela, we all view exploratory discussions of global norms on R&D as crucial in fulfilling the promise of the Global Strategy to not only improve access to medicines, but to also enhance sustainable, needs-driven medical innovation. We believe that an R&D treaty would transform the landscape of biomedical innovation to incorporate needs driven health R&D and ensure sustainable financing mechanisms. The Governments are of the firm conviction that closing the door on the WHO undermines the faith the assembled Member States have in the competence of the Organization in fulfilling its public health mandate. The treaty would have significant implications for global pharmaceutical research and development and much time, effort and hope may be lost if WHO which is in a position to support the needs of developing countries is not allowed to participate in bringing it to fruition. We express our disappointment that such a situation has come to pass given the diligent efforts of all Member States, experts, intergovernmental organizations and the global public health community involved in this process.
Nevertheless, given the assurances of the Legal Counsel that the Decision undertaken on agenda item 12.8 shall NOT prejudice the future consideration of a biomedical R&D Treaty by the WHO Executive Board and the World Health Assembly, the Governments on behalf of which this statement are read were pleased, to join consensus in following with the Spirit of Geneva. We trust that the finalization of the Plan of Action will fulfill our collective hopes in transforming biomedical innovation to truly secure access to medicines for all.
Thank you Mr. Chair