Medical Countermeasures Platform will be Pitched to Countries Next Week. Inadequate Consultations, Squeamish about IP, Activists Say [#WHA76 PRIMER]

Newsletter Edition #187 [News Flash]

Hi,

Fascinating as always to see how certain policies take shape despite concerns, and how some simply fail to take root no matter the support.

Today’s story takes a look at the progress in the discussions on a new medical countermeasures platform that will be discussed at the World Health Assembly next week, as a part of a wider set of proposals by DG Tedros on the health emergencies architecture.

We will continue to bring you what we witness from this vantage point in Geneva. More from us from the 76th World Health Assembly, behind-the-scenes action and decoding public statements.

Like our work? Consider supporting our journalism that ensures nuance, detail, and accuracy. Readers paying for our work helps us meet our costs. Thank you for reading.

Also check out from us, for Global Health Now: The 2023 World Health Assembly: A New Playbook for Health Emergencies?

Until later!

Best,

Priti

Feel free to write to us: patnaik.reporting@gmail.com or genevahealthfiles@protonmail.com; Follow us on Twitter: @filesgeneva

---

I. STORY OF THE WEEK

Medical Countermeasures Platform to be Pitched to Countries Next Week.

Inadequate Consultations, Squeamish about IP, Activists Say

The new Medical Countermeasures Platform will be pitched to countries next week at the 76^th World Health Assembly, as a part of the “HEPR” proposals by DG Tedros. (HEPR - Strengthening the global architecture for health emergency preparedness, response and resilience).

Several WHO member states indicate that they have not been consulted. Activists involved in the discussions say that there have not been any significant consultations with countries. And the platform as discussed today refrains from addressing intellectual property barriers in the access to countermeasures especially during health emergencies, they say.

Recall, that countries pushed back against these proposals from DG in January this year at the WHO Executive Board meeting. The revised proposals are expected to be published later today, ahead of the Assembly that begins on Sunday, 21^st May. (It was not yet published by the time this story went to print.)

This exclusive story brings you voices from WHO, activists, and puts into context the wider discussions at the G20 on the access to countermeasures discussion.

Image credit: Photo by Francesco Ungaro, Pexels