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Calls to Close Health Innovation and Access Gap

19 September 2016

UN quote graphic: Jorge Bermudez

An independent report prepared by the United Nations Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Access to Medicines has drawn attention to the need for bold new approaches if more people around the world are to benefit from the medical advances that have improved the lives of millions in the last century.

In particular, the report highlights the ways in which the current imbalance between human rights, trade, intellectual property rights and public health objectives is contributing to failures in addressing disease burdens and emerging diseases in many countries around the world.

Ruth Dreifuss, President of the Panel, commented:

Policy incoherencies arise when legitimate economic, social and political interests and priorities are misaligned or in conflict with the right to health. On the one hand, governments seek the economic benefits of increased trade. On the other, the imperative to respect patents on health technologies could, in certain instances, create obstacles to the public health objectives and the right to health.

In proposals that are already making waves amongst drug companies, the report calls on governments to negotiate global agreements on the coordination, financing and development of health technologies to complement existing innovation models, including a binding R&D Convention that delinks the costs of R&D from end prices.

In particular, it argues that poorer countries struggling to afford life-saving drugs should be allowed to override pharmaceuticals patents. Although the right to issue compulsory licenses enabling countries to access a cheaper supply of generic drugs already exists in theory, in practise, the report notes – citing evidence of intimidation – it is little used.

While IKD members broadly welcome the report’s findings, it is disappointing that the potential of local production to address some of the issues raised – highlighted in The Open University’s submission to the Panel – has not been recognised. Although, as Maureen Mackintosh, IKD Director, added, it is encouraging that the importance of promoting local manufacturing is increasingly being recognised in African policy circles and by domestic governments, a good example being the Tanzanian government's recent development plan.

Read the full UN Panel report: Promoting Innovation and Access to Health Technologies.

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