TWN Info Service on Health Issues (2023)

• COVID-19: Big Pharma using patent "evergreening" to monopolize vaccines
  by Kanaga Raja (21 Dec 23)
• WHO: WGIHR Bureau’s proposals raise concerns on early harvest approach at the cost of equity
  by TWN (07 Dec 23)
• Webinar: Improving Drug Regulation for Greater Access to Biologics and Vaccines
  (06 Dec 23)
• WHO: INB 7 resumes amidst report on coercion; unfair process
  by TWN (04 Dec 23)
• WHO: INB Bureau refuses to incorporate Member States proposals in negotiating text
  by TWN (24 Nov 23)
• Webinar: How Patent Monopolies on Biologics and Vaccines Work (22 November)
  (21 Nov 23)
• UN: Palestinian official condemns Israel's justification for killings in Gaza
  by Kanaga Raja (21 Nov 23)
• UN: "Genocide being committed against the Palestinian people"
  by Kanaga Raja (08 Nov 23)
• WTO: US continues its ambivalent position on diagnostics & therapeutics
  by TWN (07 Nov 23)
• Tip the Scale: Equity Front and Center in the Pandemic Instrument (civil society letter to WHO negotiations body co-chairs)
  (07 Nov 23)
• WHO: Developing Member States reaffirm commitment towards an equitable pandemic accord
  (06 Nov 23)
• WHO: Civil society organisations demand for a fair negotiating process for a pandemic instrument
  by K M Gopakumar (06 Nov 23)
• WHO: Pandemic Access & Benefit Sharing System in Proposed Text flawed
  by Sangeeta Shashikant (05 Nov 23)
• WHO: Proposed Modalities for INB7 compromises fair negotiating process
  by TWN (05 Nov 23)
• USITC Report Confirms Inadequacy of Voluntary License, Tier Pricing, International initiatives to Support Access in Developing Countries
  by Sangeeta Shashikant (01 Nov 23)
• New briefing on secondary patents on TB medicines
  by Prathibha Sivasubramanian (24 Oct 23)
• WHO: INB Bureau proposes unbalanced draft negotiating text; no concrete deliverables on equity
  by TWN (19 Oct 23)
• WTO: GC chair's report suggests bleak outcomes for TRIPS & PSH
  by D. Ravi Kanth (19 Oct 23)
• WHO: IHR amendments deadline extended to May 2024; Bureau mandated to draft text
  by TWN (13 Oct 23)
• WHO: "Early harvest" to side line negotiations on equity proposals in IHR through Co-chair proposals
  by TWN (05 Oct 23)
• WHO: WGIHR to discuss health emergency measures and unilateral actions
  by TWN (03 Octt 23)
• Under pressure J&J announces non-enforcement of Bedaquiline patents in low and middle income countries
  by K M Gopakumar (03 Oct 23)
• TWN submission on India’s Draft Patent (Amendment) Rules 2023
  (27 Sept 23)
• Breaking Patent Barriers: Struggle to Access Breast Cancer Medicines in India
  (25 Sept 23)
• UNGA: 11 countries object to the adoption of 4 high level political declarations
  by TWN (19 Sept 23)
• UNGA: Political Declaration on pandemic pays lip service to equity
  by K M Gopakumar & Chee Yoke Ling (19 Sept 23)
• WHO: INB Bureau to develop another draft negotiating text
  by TWN (11 Sept 23)
• Rights: UN body criticizes North states’ refusal to waive Covid-19 vaccine IPRs
  by Kanaga Raja (04 Sept 23)
• WHO: G20 health ministers refuse to endorse establishment of interim MCM Platform
  by K M Gopakumar (23 Aug 23)
• WHO: South calls for "equity across the board" in joint WGIHR / INB meeting
  by Nithin Ramakrishnan (14 Aug 23)
• WHO: IHR amendments on "surveillance" and "intermediate alert" move to informal meetings
  by TWN (14 Aug 23)
• India's Rejection of Drug Patent Term Extension in FTAs Will Promote Access
  by Chetali Rao & K M Gopakumar (25 Jul 23)
• WHO: North's proposals to take centre stage in IHR working group meeting
  by TWN (24 Jul 23)
• WHO: INB to continue with informal process without clarity on the first negotiation draft
  by TWN (21 Jul 23)
• WHO: Pandemic instrument meeting started with no clarity on the negotiating text
  by Nithin Ramakrishnan (19 Jul 23)
• Trade: African Group exposes failures of WTO's TRIPS Agreement
  by D. Ravi Kanth (12 Jul 23)
• WHO: No consensus to initiate textual negotiations on pandemic instrument
  by Nithin Ramakrishnan (22 Jun 23)
• Trade: Decision on COVID-19 diagnostics & therapeutics doubtful by MC13?
  by D. Ravi Kanth (20 Jun 23)
• WTO: South "ups the ante" on COVID-19 diagnostics & therapeutics
  by D. Ravi Kanth (14 Jun 23)
• WHO: Developing countries call for legal obligations on equity in pandemic instrument
  by Nithin Ramakrishnan (14 Jun 23)
• Ebola Inequity Reinforces Need for Comprehensive Access & Benefit Sharing Mechanism
  by Sangeeta Shashikant (12 Jun 23)
• WHO: INB Bureau proposes comments on pandemic instrument text, not textual proposals
  by Nithin Ramakrishnan & K M Gopakumar (12 Jun 23)
• Health: CSOs warn of dangers from private sector investments in WHO
  by D. Ravi Kanth (29 May 23)
• WHO: Member States to engage in equity proposals on IHR 2005 amendment
  by Nithin Ramakrishnan & K M Gopakumar (08 May 23)
• Health: Tuberculosis risk factors exacerbated by climate change
  by IPS/Ed Holt (05 May 23)
• WHO: Negotiations on equity proposals for IHR amendments to start
  by K M Gopakumar & Nithin Ramakrishnan (17 Apr 23)
• WHO: Submission date fixed for text proposals on pandemic instrument Zero Draft
  by Nithin Ramakrishnan (14 Apr 23)
• UN: Super-bugs among top 10 threats to whole cycle of life
  by IPS/Baher Kamal (13 Apr 23)
• A Ray of Hope for TB Patients: Indian Patent Office Rejects a Secondary Patent on TB drug Bedaquiline
  by Prathibha Sivasubramanian (27 Mar 23)
• WTO: US holds decision on diagnostics & therapeutics hostage to ITC probe
  by D. Ravi Kanth (22 Mar 23)
• WHO: Confusion prevails over first draft of new pandemic instrument
  by Nithin Ramakrishnan & K M Gopakumar (13 Mar 23)
• WHO: Text negotiations on equity proposals for International Health Regulations to start in April 2023
  by K M Gopakumar & Nithin Ramakrishnan (13 Mar 23)
• "Open" Databases Undermine Access and Benefit Sharing
  by Nithin Ramakrishnan & Chetali Rao (07 Mar 23)
• WHO: Zero Draft of the pandemic instrument creates an “illusion” of equity
  by Nithin Ramakrishnan & K M Gopakumar (27 Feb 23)
• WHO: Secretariat attempts to influence international health regulations amendment negotiations using Review Committee
  by Nithin Ramakrishnan (26 Feb 23)
• South-South Collaboration & Compulsory License Can Benefit Public Health
  by TWN (22 Feb 23)
• WHO: IHR Review Committee fails to make meaningful technical recommendations
  by K M Gopakumar & Nithin Ramakrishnan (20 Feb 23)
• WHO: Continued derailment of the implementation of FENSA
  by K M Gopakumar (06 Feb 23)
• Lancet 2023 Series on Breastfeeding: Global Launch 8th February 2023 / Southeast Asia Launch 9th February
  (06 Feb 23)
• WHO: NGOs raise concerns on denial of effective participation at governing body meetings
  by K M Gopakumar (06 Feb 23)
• WHO: EB Members express reservations on DG's proposals on global health emergency architecture
  by TWN (31 Jan 23)
• WHO: DG's proposals for global health emergency architecture skip critical issues
  by K M Gopakumar & Nithin Ramakrishnan (30 Jan 23)
• Trade: Swiss Minister opposes TRIPS Decision on diagnostics & therapeutics
  by D. Ravi Kanth (25 Jan 23)
• WHO: Will the Zero Draft of pandemic legal instrument incorporate calls for equity?
  by Nithin Ramakrishnan (27 Jan 23)
• Zoom Webinar Today 27 January: Common but Differentiated Responsibility in International Health and Pandemic Preparedness, Prevention & Response
  (27 Jan 23)
• Trade: Ministers must address WTO's failure on diagnostics & therapeutics
  by D. Ravi Kanth (17 Jan 23)
• WHO: Developing Countries focus on equity in IHR amendment proposals
  by Nithin Ramakrishnan & K M Gopakumar (11 Jan 23)
• US FDA Moves Away from Animal Testing for Biosimilar Development
  by Chetali Rao & K M Gopakumar (05 Jan 23)