Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
a strength of the IGwG is that it is an intergovernmental process, shaped by
the more than 100 participating countries (along with experts from civil society and
academia), rather than by the WHO secretariat. As a result, there has been significant
government involvement from the beginning. Some may argue that the diversity of
state interests in such processes lowers the bar and progress is rarely made. However,
because of the inclusive negotiating process, there is rigid adherence to the text of
the report that the working group agreed upon. the negotiating dynamic that has
developed is positive, with all parties involved and making submissions. the wHo
also held two web-based public hearings—1 to 15 november 2006 and 15 august to
30 September 2007—to provide an opportunity to everyone, including the general
public, to become involved. Such an intergovernmental process is the basis of global
health diplomacy—strong countries from all parts of the world move in a common
direction on an issue, and others eventually are persuaded to follow.
the 2006 cIPIH report made 60 recommendations on intellectual property
and global health in several areas, including discovery, development, delivery, the
encouragement of innovation in developing countries, and the way forward.
the draft global strategy and plan of action on public health, innovation, and
intellectual property focussed on eight principle topics: prioritising r&D needs,
promoting r&D, building and improving innovative capacity, transferring technology,
managing intellectual property, improving delivery and access, ensuring sustainable
financing mechanisms, and establishing monitoring and reporting systems (IGWG
2007). because a large part of the negotiations include pushing r&D funds toward
diseases of the poor and exploring the dynamics of those markets, many countries
appoint intellectual property experts to their delegations to deal with this sensitive
and divisive issue. the global action plan developed by the IGwG is a non-binding
global strategy, and was presented to the wHa in May 2008. once wHo regulations
and framework conventions are ratified, states will be required to opt out rather than
opt in, resulting in a significant amount of peer pressure for states to remain within
the system.
the major global health and trade issues include:
• avian influenza and pandemics, and the IHr;
• follow up to the cIPIH report;
• the implementation of paragraph 6 of the delcaration on trade-related Intellectual
Property rights (trIPS) and public health (World Trade Organization [WTO]
2003), which calls for flexibility so countries that cannot produce pharmaceuticals
can import patented drugs made under compulsory licensing;
• requests and offers made under the General agreement on trade in Services
(GatS) as well as domestic regulation disciplines; and
• the implementation of wHa trade and health resolutions (see appendix 13-1).
there has been a shift in the delegations from member states attending global health
negotiations, and this has been apparent at the IGwG negotiations. the participants
no longer represent only ministries of health, but also ministries involved in foreign
