PHA-Exch> Countries question IMPACT's legitimacy and WHO's role in drug counterfeits

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: bala at haiap.org bala at haiap.org

We had serious concerns over the WHO Secretariat using the term counterfeit
to describe problem relating to the quality ,safety and efficacy of medical
products and addressing such problems through the International Medical
Products Anti-Counterfeit Task Force (IMPACT).

The whole issue of counterfeit was discussed at the WHO Executive Board (EB)
Meeting. I am forwarding a mail from Third World Network. You will be
pleased to know that the resolution EB/124/14 which contained the WHO
Secretariat's report and draft resolution has been dropped due to
significant opposition from several developing countries. The Secretariat
has been asked to come up with a new report to be sent to the World Health
Assembly, May 2009.

*From: *TWN News <news at twnnews.net>
>
> WHO Secretariat is to come up with a new report to be sent to the World
> Health Assembly in May 2009. EB 124/14 which contained the Secretariat's
> report and draft resolution has been dropped due to significant opposition
> from several developing countries.
>
> EXCERPT:
> Geneva, 27 Jan (Sangeeta Shashikant) -- Many developing countries voiced
> concerns at a meeting of the Executive Board of the World Health
> Organization (WHO) over the Secretariat using the term "counterfeit" to
> describe problems relating to the quality, safety and efficacy of medical
> products, and addressing such problems through the International Medical
> Products Anti-Counterfeit Taskforce (IMPACT).
>
> At a meeting of the Executive Board on 23 January, Latin American (grouped
> under GRULAC) and Southeast Asian countries (called SEARO) as well as Iran
> and Egypt were concerned that the term "counterfeit", used in connection
> with IP violations particularly trademark infringements, would result in the
> WHO addressing health concerns through IP enforcement measures.
>
> Concerns were also raised over the WHO's anti-counterfeit taskforce IMPACT,
> which many countries felt was unsuited to address the issue of quality,
> safety and efficacy (QSE) of medical products because its establishment
> lacked a mandate from the WHO's governing bodies; its emphasis on
> "counterfeits"; the involvement of the private sector in its activities thus
> raising issues of conflicts of interest; and lack of transparency.
>
> The Africa Group, recognizing alarm among some countries over the use of
> the term "counterfeit", recommended improving its definition.
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://phm.phmovement.org/pipermail/phm-exchange-phmovement.org/attachments/20090203/f2119fae/attachment-0001.html>