In his opening speech at last week’s World Health Assembly (WHA), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), set a promising tone on innovation by calling the private sector “a crucial partner in achieving health for all.” This is an important recognition, as public-private partnerships that protect and reward innovation are critical to addressing public health challenges, including the complex barriers impeding access to medicines worldwide.
“As the WHO sets out to develop and solidify a five-year roadmap to address access to medicines and vaccines, it’s imperative that the protection of IP and innovation is kept top of mind. Without strong IP systems, the innovative products and processes that are transforming the way we treat disease worldwide will be jeopardized.”
Amid the many WHA meetings and discussions on access to medicines and vaccines, public health, and emergencies and disasters, there was also robust support for intellectual property (IP) as a crucial facilitator of innovation and access. Several proactive solutions were presented – with the United States and Germany leading the charge – poised to address the obstacles standing between patients and the medicines they need. For example:
- In a meeting to address the global shortage of, and access to, medicines and vaccines, Germany recognized that IP protections are “a part of the solution” and an “incentive for innovation.”
- The U.S. delegation urged the WHO to move away from the harmful recommendations made by the UN High-Level Panel report, noting that it is “not an appropriate starting point for discussion.” The U.S. also underscored the important role innovation plays in addressing our greatest global health challenges, and reiterated the unjust burden that inappropriate use of compulsory licensing places on the countries funding novel research and bringing medical breakthroughs to market.
These promising remarks, however, were not met without challenges. While most member states did not advocate for measures to undermine IP, some – including Malaysia, Zambia, Barbados, Colombia, Portugal, the Netherlands, Brazil, India and Bangladesh – made statements encouraging implementation of the UN High-Level Panel report’s harmful recommendations or advocating for enhanced use of TRIPS flexibilities. These measures would only hamper innovation and distract from the true barriers to medicine access.
As the WHO now sets out to develop and solidify a five-year roadmap to address the global shortage of, and access to, medicines and vaccines, it’s imperative that the protection of IP and innovation is kept top of mind. Without strong IP systems, the innovative products and processes that are transforming the way we treat disease worldwide will be jeopardized, and patients could suffer the consequences. Rather than listening to the small number of delegations that continue to point fingers at IP, international leaders should recognize IP’s role in solving access challenges, and that innovation-friendly partnerships will help address the real and complex barriers to global health progress.
