News Room
Pan-American stakeholders speak out on innovation and public health
(September 30, 2008) Today, key healthcare stakeholders from across the Americas came together to send a unified message to members of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) – protect the health of future generations by fostering a strong environment for medical innovation. This statement coincides with the gathering of PAHO delegates in Washington D.C. for their annual assembly where they will discuss, amongst other topics, the World Health Organization’s draft strategy on public health, innovation and intellectual property.
Patients speak out on global health and innovation
(Geneva - May 15, 2008) On the eve of the 61st World Health Assembly, patient representatives from around the world gathered in Geneva to voice their concerns and provide recommendations on the WHO’s proposed strategy and draft plan of action on public health, innovation and intellectual property.
IAPO calls on WHO member states to involve patient groups in health policy development
(IAPO Press Release - May 1, 2008) The International Alliance of Patient’s Organizations (IAPO) took the opportunity to call on WHO member states to engage patients in the development of the draft plan of action on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property.
The poor stand to lose from anti-patent crusades
(Afrik.com - Apr. 30, 2008) Many important steps need to be to taken to improve medical care in the Third World. Despite what the health activists are saying, stealing drug patents and stifling the creation of life-saving medicines is not one of them. What patients need aren’t patent-busting bureaucrats, but more roads, doctors, hospitals, nutritious food, and good sanitation.
Neo-colonialist NGOs
(The Daily Times, Malawi - Apr. 30, 2008) A new breed of Western colonialists has emerged in Africa. These statist NGOs support ideologies proven not to work in their own countries. Amongst other agendas, they want bureaucrats rather than markets to determine what diseases are researched. Before taking their medicine, we must carefully read the label or suffer nasty side effects.
Not the forum for proven failures
(Essential Innovation - Apr. 30, 2008) The IGWG should focus on mechanisms that complement the existing system of medical research and development -- and address real barriers to access such as poverty, taxes and corruption -- rather than engineering a replacement to the current intellectual property rights regime.
Africa's Failing Infrastructure Renders CL Pointless
(The New Times, Kigali - Apr. 28, 2008) The anti-patent crowd believes that patents keep prices high and drugs out of the reach of the poor. But even if medicine were available for free, as it often is in poor nations, dysfunctional institutions and personnel ensure that the needy can't access it.
India should celebrate World IP day
(CIOL.com - Apr. 23, 2008) To achieve environmental, social and economic progress, humanity needs to innovate. Despite this, there has been a global campaign to undermine IP rights by a group of anti-market activists, self-interested politicians, vested interests, and more recently, the infiltrated World Health Organisation.
