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<DIV><B>From:</B> <A title=twnet@po.jaring.my
href="mailto:twnet@po.jaring.my">Third World Network</A> </DIV>
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href="http://www.twnside.org.sg">www.twnside.org.sg</A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></DIV>
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 14.4pt"><B><SPAN
lang=EN-GB>At the recent WHO’s Executive Board meeting several
developing-country members have expressed concern at the lack of progress and
direction of the WHO Intergovernmental Working Group on Intellectual Property,
Innovation and Health.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 14.4pt"><B><SPAN
lang=EN-GB><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 14.4pt"><B><SPAN
lang=EN-GB>The article below is reproduced </SPAN></B><B><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US">with the permission of</SPAN></B><B
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN lang=EN-GB style="COLOR: black">
South-North Development Monitor (SUNS) #6179, 30 January
2007.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><B><SPAN
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic">WHO: Executive
Board unable to reinvigorate IP Group process<o:p></o:p></SPAN></B></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic">By
Sangeeta Shashikant, <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Geneva</st1:place></st1:City>, 28 January 2007<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic"><o:p><FONT
face=Arial size=2>[Excerpt]</FONT> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic">Several
developing-country members of the Executive Board of the World Health
Organisation have expressed concern and frustration at the lack of progress and
direction of a WHO group tasked with charting the organisation's future action
on intellectual property, innovation and health.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic">These
concerns were voiced at the WHO's Executive Board meeting being held here on
22-30 January. At the end of the discussion on the item last Friday, the
frustration was even more palpable because the Board itself could not seem to
make any progress on the issue.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic">Some
developing-country delegations and NGOs that are closely watching the process
are now concerned that if the process is not strengthened, little if anything
concrete would be achieved by the end of this year, when the WHO's
Intergovernmental Working Group on Intellectual Property, Innovation and Health
(IGWG) is scheduled to meet for a second and possibly final
time.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic">At
the formal session of the Board, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Brazil</st1:place></st1:country-region> described the inaugural
meeting of the IGWG last December as "ridiculous", and "not an event that brings
honour" to the WHO.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><st1:country-region
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic">Kenya</SPAN></st1:place></st1:country-region><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic">
joined in to express disappointment. <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">Thailand</st1:place></st1:country-region> proposed a plan of action to
reinvigorate the process but no formal decision was taken on
it.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic">The
developing countries and health-related NGOs have been pinning their hopes on
the IGWG to develop a new global strategy and action plan to promote research
and development and innovation in medicines and health care, while also treating
IPR issues in a manner in which public health concerns take
priority.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic">However,
it became clear at the Board meeting that developing countries that have led
this process are dissatisfied with the process so far, especially the lack of
concrete results at the IGWG's inaugural meeting last
December.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic">At
the Board meeting last week, these countries called for a strengthened and
expedited process to ensure that the IGWG produces a positive outcome this year.
However, the Board discussion ended without any substantive results, while the
WHO Secretariat announced its plans for this year's activities in this
area.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
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style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic"><FONT
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