WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION FIFTY-SEVENTH WORLD HEALTH ASSEMBLY Provisional agenda item 12.15 A57/18 Add.1 29 April 2004
Implementation of resolutions (progress reports) Report by the Secretariat
F.
INTELLECTUAL HEALTH
PROPERTY
RIGHTS,
INNOVATION
AND
PUBLIC
1. WHO’s Commission on Intellectual Property Rights, Innovation and Public Health held its first meeting on 5 and 6 April in Geneva under the Chairmanship of Ms Ruth Dreifuss. All members were present. 2. The Commission heard presentations from senior WHO officials and representatives of international agencies (WIPO, UNCTAD, WTO, UNAIDS), the research-based pharmaceutical industry, and civil society. 3. The Commission discussed extensively issues raised by its terms of reference and deliberated on its priorities and work programme. It agreed to focus on the following broad areas: the burden of disease and research and development; intellectual property and public health; other incentives for innovation; traditional medicine; and capacity building. It decided on a programme of work consisting of studies, consultations, and the drafting of its report. 4. The Commission agreed to be open in its consultations with the different stakeholders interested in its work, and in drawing on their expertise to support its work. 5. The Commission’s web site was launched on 5 April 2004.1 The Commission will post its papers, and submissions to it, on the site and use it as a vehicle for communicating with stakeholders. 6. The Commission also considered the time frame for its work. In view of the need to review thoroughly all the issues and to ensure broad consultation with interested groups, it requested the Director-General, who has agreed, to suggest that the Health Assembly should consider extending the period set out in resolution WHA56.27 for the Commission to complete its work. It would submit its final report to the Executive Board at its 117th session (January 2006) instead of its 115th session (January 2005).
1
www.who.int/intellectualproperty.
A57/18 Add.1
ACTION BY THE HEALTH ASSEMBLY 7. The Health Assembly is invited to consider extending to January 2006 the time limit set out in resolution WHA56.27 for completion of the work of the Commission on Intellectual Property Rights, Innovation and Public Health. . = = =
2