Joint letter to WHO formally requesting the R&D Observatory to play a more relevant role in the COVID-19 response

On Friday, 28 August 2020, six groups including Corporación Innovarte, Health Action International, Knowledge Ecology International, Medicines Law & Policy, Pharmaceutical Accountability Foundation, and Wemos wrote a joint letter to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Chief Scientist, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan,… Continue Reading

Italy undertakes bold measures on transparency by adopting the Pricing and Reimbursement Decree

On Friday, 24 July 2020, Italy officially published the long-anticipated Pricing and Reimbursement Decree in the Gazzetta Ufficiale della Repubblica Italiana setting in motion Italy’s place as the first country to implement the WHO transparency resolution (WHA72.8). In statement before… Continue Reading

WTO TRIPS Council (July 2020): The European Union’s position on the interface of IP and health technologies in the COVID-19 response

On 30 July 2020, the World Trade Organization (WTO) convened a formal meeting of the TRIPS Council. The TRIPS Council held discussions on two COVID-19 related topics: agenda item 3 on IP Measures in the Context of COVID-19 and agenda… Continue Reading

WTO TRIPS Council (July 2020): South Africa’s submission on IP and the Public Interest – Beyond Access to Medicines and Medical Technologies towards a more Holistic Approach to TRIPS Flexibilities

On Friday, 17 July 2020, South Africa submitted a paper to the World Trade Organization (WTO) TRIPS Council entitled, Intellectual Property and the Public Interest: Beyond Access to Medicines and Medical Technologies Towards a More Holistic Approach To TRIPS Flexibilities.… Continue Reading

The European Parliament calls on the European Commission and the Member States to formally support the COVID-19 Technology Access Pool (C-TAP)

On Friday, 10 July 2020, the European Parliament adopted a resolution entitled, The EU’s public health strategy post-COVID-19, by 526 votes to 105 and 50 abstentions. This resolution paves the way for the creation of a European Health Union and… Continue Reading

Senate Foreign Relations Committee questions State Department, USAID, and HHS on COVID-19 and U.S. International Pandemic Preparedness, Prevention, and Response

On Thursday, 18 June 2020, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee convened a hearing on COVID-19 and U.S. International Pandemic Preparedness, Prevention, and Response. The witnesses called to provide testimony included: 1) James L. Richardson, Director, Office of Foreign Assistance, U.S.… Continue Reading

WTO TRIPS Council (informal): South Africa’s interventions on COVID-19, TRIPS flexibilities, and domestic manufacturing capacity

On Friday, 19 June 2020, the World Trade Organization (WTO) convened an informal virtual Open-ended Meeting of the TRIPS Council. . The following statements were delivered by South Africa at the virtual open-ended informal meeting of the TRIPS Council. In… Continue Reading