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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>pl distribute in the list serve</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>martin khor</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV class=Section1>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri size=2><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%">Latest situation at negotiations at
WHO's IPR/R&D group </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri size=2><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"></SPAN></FONT><FONT face=Calibri
size=2><SPAN lang=EN-GB style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%">By <SPAN
class=SpellE>Riaz</SPAN> K. <SPAN class=SpellE>Tayob</SPAN> (Third World
Network) <st1:City w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Geneva</st1:place></st1:City>
9 Nov 2007</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri size=2><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%">Negotiations are very unlikely to
conclude by Saturday (the last day) at the second session of the <SPAN
class=SpellE>WHO’s</SPAN> Intergovernmental Working Group on Public Health,
Innovation and Intellectual Property Rights (IGWG).</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri size=2><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%">It is now likely that the
negotiations will continue at a resumed session or some other <SPAN
class=GramE>meeting <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>sometime</SPAN>
next year.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri size=2><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%">The delegations have not been able to
discuss all the topics in the Secretariat’s 31 July draft
text.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri size=2><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%">During a meeting of the Committee of
a Whole, Peter Oldham, the Chair of the Working Group said that the meeting
would be suspended. He used the term advisedly as he said that when work resumes
all the protocols and procedures adopted at the current session would be
applicable.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri size=2><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%">He said that the Working Group Bureau
would propose formally tomorrow to resume the <SPAN class=GramE>session<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>from</SPAN> 28 April<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>to 3 May 2008, before the World Health
Assembly because that is the mandate of the Working Group. At same time, he
proposed that as members would like to continue the work of the drafting group
dealing with the Plan of action. Perhaps 3 days can be set aside in <st1:City
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Geneva</st1:place></st1:City> for work to develop
the plan of action from the negotiated text.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri size=2><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%">Denis <SPAN
class=SpellE>Aitken</SPAN> of the Secretariat said that they would issue a
conference room paper on the work being done in the drafting groups. As regards
text that is not negotiated, the Bureau and the Secretariat would receive
comments by 31 January which will be reproduced by 1 March to show the
additional comments to non-negotiated text. He said we cannot accept submissions
on negotiated text as that is up to members of the negotiating
groups.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on"><FONT
face=Calibri size=2><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%">Brazil</SPAN></FONT></st1:place></st1:country-region><SPAN
lang=EN-GB> said that it was not against the timetable as proposed if that is
what must be done. It said that on the chapeau and principles that have been
agreed, it is important that this new face of the <SPAN
class=GramE>organisation</SPAN> and this must already be strengthened. It said
that this is a historic time as many developing countries have shown a keen
interest in this.</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri size=2><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%">The two parallel drafting groups
working on the draft texts are making progress but many developing countries do
not expect to conclude discussions by Saturday despite having worked late every
evening of the session. The discussions have centred mainly <SPAN
class=GramE>around</SPAN> the Global Strategy, the first annex of the
Secretariat prepared draft text. Very limited work has been done on the second
annex, the Plan of Action. The drafting groups are working on updated texts that
include written submissions for changes from member states on the 31 July
Secretariat prepared draft text.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri size=2><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%">Progress has been on the introductory
paragraphs, Context, Aim, Focus and Principles, although differences remain on
some of the paragraphs. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The
paragraph on the Focus of the Global Strategy is still pending consensus. In the
constantly updated working group texts, the paragraph related to the Focus is
probably to be deleted according to many developing countries delegates. This is
the paragraph in the draft text that contained the footnote prepared by the
Secretariat that limited to focus of the Working Strategy to fourteen
diseases.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri size=2><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%">Instead, a new introductory paragraph
on principles has been negotiated and refers to the WHO Constitution, the
objective of WHO shall be the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible
level of health. Other principles agreed include the enjoyment of the highest
attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental human rights of every
human being without distinction on of social or economic condition, the
promotion of technological innovation and transfer of technology should be
pursued by all states and supported by intellectual property rights, and
intellectual property rights should not prevent member states from taking
measures to protect public health. </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri size=2><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%">There is no consensus yet on
principles including the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the health as
recognised in international human rights instruments – particularly the
International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Discussions need
to be pursued on two alternate proposals, that the objectives of public health
and the interest of trade should be appropriately balanced and coordinated, or,
the right to health takes precedence over commercial
interests.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri size=2><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%">A series of new texts have been
produced as a result of the drafting group discussions. The Secretariat has
issued to the drafting groups ‘Textual Submission – Element 3-8’ which includes
the written submissions from member states on building innovative capacity,<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>transfer of technology, management of
intellectual property; improving delivery and access, financing mechanisms, and
monitoring and reporting systems. It includes suggested changes to the
Secretariat’s draft text of 31 July from a number of states, the Rio text Group
( group of 14 Latin American countries), India, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Colombia,
Switzerland, European Union, and regional groups within WHO like Eastern
Mediterranean (EMRO), South East Asia (SEARO), Africa (AFRO). </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri size=2><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%">It was agreed that members are not
precluded from making new proposals on the draft texts. It seems that on the
“Textual Submission – Element 3 – 8” the US and the European Commission (which
reportedly retains authority on <SPAN class=SpellE>TRIPs</SPAN> related issues
instead of the European Union) have not made textual submissions in time to be
included. The <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place
w:st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region> is reportedly very active in the
discussions in the working groups.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri size=2><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%">In addition, another document <SPAN
class=GramE>‘ Textual</SPAN> Submissions Plan of Action – Elements 1 & 2’
has also been issued. It addresses the second part of the Secretariat’s draft
text which deals with Specific Actions, Indicators and the stakeholders
responsible for implementing the actions. </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri size=2><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%">A 7 November working group draft text
covering element 1 and 2 was released and has been subsequently updated
yesterday. The updated version reflects a greater level of consensus although
there are some provisions that are still in brackets and need to be discussed
further. Developing country diplomats have said some developed countries have
requested that issues related to intellectual property rights and financing be
removed to element 5 on the management of intellectual property and element 7 on
financing mechanisms.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri size=2><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%">The latest text from the drafting
groups includes a paragraph that is pending consensus from the US and states,
proposals should be developed for health needs driven research and development
that include a range of incentive mechanisms and a method for tailoring the
optimal mix of incentives to a particular condition of product with the
objective of addressing diseases that disproportionately affect developing
countries.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri size=2><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%">The drafting groups are currently
dealing with the Global Strategy, element 5 on intellectual property and element
4 on technology transfer. <SPAN class=GramE>and</SPAN> the progress is
reportedly slow.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri size=2><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%">These new documents are issued by the
Secretariat under the same document number, A/PHI/IGWG/2/2 although they do have
different titles.</SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><FONT face=Calibri size=2><SPAN lang=EN-GB
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt; LINE-HEIGHT: 115%"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></FONT></P></DIV></BODY></HTML>