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Published in: 01/21/2016

ISAGS debates contribution for the UN High Level Panel on Medicines

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On January 14th, ISAGS Chief of Staff Luana Bermudez and the Institute’s Technical Consultant on Health Industrial Complex and Regulation Monica Sutton participated in a meeting, convened by Fiocruz, in order to debate potential contributions that will be submitted to the UN High Level Panel on Access to Medicines. Launched on December 11th, the initiative promotes a debate on contradictions between public health needs and international trade, as well as patents.

In this context, the Panel’s co-Chair Ruth Dreifuss, released a call for contributions, which is open for countries, research institutions, NGOs, companies, legal experts and patient groups. “I would like to encourage as many stakeholders as possible to make contributions and participate in the work of the High-Level Panel,” said Ruth Dreifuss in a video launched on the initiative’s website. “The insights we gain from their active engagement will be critical to informing our recommendations on promoting innovation and access to health technologies to ensure the health and well-being for all, as envisioned in Sustainable Development Goal 3.”

Among the specialists appointed for the Panel and the Advisory Group, there are four South American representatives: two Brazilians, Fiocruz Health Production and Innovation VP Jorge Bermudez and the former Minister of Foreign Affairs Celso Amorim: and two Argentines, the University of Buenos Aires Professor and South Centre Consultant Carlos Correa and the Executive Director of the Grupo Efecto Positivo Foundation and general coordinator of RedLam-FGEP Maria Lorena di Giano.

ISAGS and GAUMU had already participated in a meeting to discuss the issue days before the Panel launching. Next meeting’s goal is to debate potential contributions, as they must be submitted until February 18th.

The two structures of the UNASUR Health Council have been actively working on the issue, with on-going projects, like the medicine Price Database of the South American bloc, and events like December’s meeting on health technology evaluation, which took place in the Institute’s headquarters.