WHA70 – Side Event on Addressing Access Barriers and Affordability Challenges for Cancer Drugs – 24 May 2017
On Wednesday, 24 May 2017, Knowledge Ecology International (KEI), Oxfam and Stichting Health Action International (HAI) are convening a side event on addressing access barriers and affordability challenges for cancer medicines. This panel will take place in Salle IX of the United Nations Palais des Nations from 18:00 to 19:30.
Date: Wednesday, 24 May 2017
Time: 18:00 to 19:30
Location: Salle IX, United Nations Palais des NationsPanelists:
Berlin Declaration of the G20 Health Ministers
After at least eight rounds of negotiation, including two Geneva-based negotiations held on 12 May 2017 and 17 May 2017, the G20 Health Ministers meeting, convened in Berlin from 19-20 May 2017 issued the following declaration.
In relation to the R&D pipeline for developing new antimicrobial therapies, the G20 recognized “the importance of fostering R&D for new antimicrobials, alternative therapies, vaccines and rapid-point-of care diagnostics, in particular for priority pathogens as identified by WHO and for tuberculosis.”
SCCR34: Atmospherics of WIPO negotiations on a broadcasting treaty
Currently, the WIPO Standing Committee on Copyright and Related Rights (SCCR) is engaged in negotiations on a Treaty for the Protection of Broadcasting Organizations, an exercise dating back to 1998. (Source: Timeline of WIPO negotiations on a Treaty for the Protection of Broadcasting Organizations). Continue Reading
KEI statement: 21st meeting of the WHO Expert Committee on the Selection and Use of Essential Medicines
On Monday, 27 March 2017, Knowledge Ecology International (KEI) delivered the following oral statement to the Open Session of the 21st Meeting of the WHO Expert Committee on the Selection and Use of Essential Medicines. The program for the open session can be found here.
14 March 2017 – Senate Finance Committee grills Robert Lighthizer (USTR nominee) on trade and IPR policies
On 14 March 2017, the U.S. Senate Finance Committee held confirmation hearings for Robert Lighthizer, President Donald Trump’s appointee for United States Trade Representative. During the Reagan administration, Lighthizer served as Deputy US Trade Representative with the rank of Ambassador (Source: http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=41174). Prior to his tenure as Deputy USTR, from 1981 to 1983, Lighthizer served as Chief Counsel for the U.S. Senate Finance Committee. Currently, he is a partner at Skadden Arps. Continue Reading
8 March 2017 – Statement of Portugal – HRC 34 – Panel on Access to Medicines
On 8 March 2017, the Permanent Representative of Portugal, Ambassador Pedro Nuno Bártolo, made a powerful intervention at the Human Rights Council’s panel discussion on access to medicines. Portugal stressed that access to medicines is a fundamental element of the right to health and highlighted how the high prices of hepatitis C and cancer medicines made them unaffordable to large segments of the population in industrialized countries. Continue Reading
8 March 2017 – Statement of the European Union – HRC 34 – Panel on Access to Medicines
On 8 March 2017, the European Union (EU) delivered the following statement to the Human Rights Council’s panel discussion on Access to Medicines. As the Human Right Council imposed a strict two minute limit on interventions, the EU was not able to raise the following two questions contained at the end of its intervention.
I have two questions for the Panel.
Could the panellists suggest further measures to promote a holistic approach to access to medicines?
8 March 2017 – Statement of the World Trade Organization – HRC 34 – Panel on Access to Medicines
On 8 March 2017, the World Trade Organization delivered the following statement at the Human Rights Council’s panel on Access to Medicines.
WTO statement – Antony TaubmanIt’s an honour for the WTO Secretariat to join this distinguished panel. Today’s discussion is a welcome step forward in the journey together towards the shared goal of access to medicines for all, and promoting the development of urgently needed new medicines, recognizing the centrality of the human rights perspective for this collective effort.
8 March 2017 – Statement of Deputy High Commissioner (Kate Gilmore, OHCHR) on the Right to Health
On 8 March 2017, Kate Gilmore, United Nations Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, delivered this opening address to the Human Rights Council’s panel on Access to Medicines. Deputy High Commissioner Gilmore identified the following challenge posed by intellectual property rights:
8 March 2017 – Human Rights Council’s Access to Medicines panel set to discuss Report of UN HLP
On 8 March 2017, the Human Rights Council will convene a three hour Access to Medicines panel which will take place from 3 PM to 6 PM in Room XX of the Palais des Nations in Geneva. This panel is mandated by resolution 32/15 which passed at 32nd session of the Human Rights Council (June/July 2016). The resolution directed the Human Rights Council to convene an access to medicines panel at its 34th session in March 2017.