Open Access News

News from the open access movement


Thursday, March 27, 2008

World Health Org.: OA to promote medical research

Riaz K. Tayob, WHO: Slow progress in talks on IPRs and innovation, SUNS #6441, March 26, 2008.

Slow progress was made last week at a sub-group meeting of the [World Health Organization]'s Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property Rights.

The sub-group deals with indicators for actions in eight areas of public health, including managing intellectual property rights, research and development, technology transfer, improving access to medicines and financing mechanisms.

The IGWG is the main body under the WHO that deals with the related issues of IPRs, innovation for new medicines, and access to medicines. ...

According to delegates, during the discussions under element 2, promoting R&D, Bolivia made a proposal to promote open access publishing of research supported by public funding, and the promotion of new standards and norms at national and international levels for free access to such publications. Some developed countries opposed this, saying that they did not see it as an indicator. ...