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📢 Unveiling our new website!
As we approach our 4️⃣year anniversary, join us in celebrating this significant milestone by diving into our new & dynamic website communicating our vision, mission & commitment to global health journalism
Designed by Webbies
0
6
27
This is the clearest illustration of the distance not traveled.
Global health elite are so far removed from local realities that it is embarassing they have so much power to frame priorities.
4
30
112
Today:
@wto
members agree to engage in text-based discussions on
#TRIPSwaiver
: sources
Members will convene at an informal meeting on 17 June to assess how they can move forward ahead of General Council meeting in July.
UK, CH, EU, Korea, remain opposed to waiver.
2
60
88
Today
@WHO
member states have reached a historic consensus on increasing Assessed Contributions to 50% of the base budget at the final meeting of the Working Group on Sustainable Financing
A thread via
@FilesGeneva
, links to our stories on these discussions since Jan. 2021 (1/n)
2
19
53
Today the
@wto
TRIPS Council is continuing its discussions on the
#TRIPSWaiver
proposal in a formal meeting.
The proponents now have the support from the African Group as co-sponsors to the proposal.
0
13
43
We are delighted to announce that Geneva Health Files has received a grant from Open Society Foundations
@OpenSociety
The grant will aid coverage of global health negotiations.
6
1
39
#TRIPSWaiver
Update
Members reiterated their previously stated positions at the TRIPS Council meeting today.
UK, Switzerland, EU continued to stick to their opposition to the waiver proposal.
China, Australia sided with the proponents on the waiver proposal: sources
(1/n)
1
18
39
EXCLUSIVE from
@filesgeneva
:
A New Medical Countermeasures Platform for Equitable Access: Implications for On-Going Negotiations
Geneva Health Files Newsletter Edition
#177
[News Flash] via
@pretpat
1
3
5
A rich diversity among the stakeholders participating in the public hearings of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body, set up to establish a new instrument to govern future health emergencies.
@WHO
Shows multiple positions and interests. Cannot be a top-down approach any more
0
17
37
Today
@wto
an informal meeting among members will discuss a work programme and a road map for TRIPS Waiver negotiations over the next six weeks up until the General Council meeting at the end of July.
#TRIPSwaiver
0
14
36
#TRIPSWaiver
Update (1/n)
WTO TRIPS Council Formal Meeting today:
Sources indicate that areas of convergence between members on the COVID-19 IP response at WTO.
(Unclear if this means progress on waiver proposal per se)
1
21
37
We have published a dozen stories on the
#TRIPSwaiver
talks
@wto
.
Your ready reckoner from Geneva Health Files on the evolution of these discussions.
Here's a thread in chronological order. 1/13
1
17
34
Trade Won, Health Did Not. A Sliver of a Waiver at the WTO.
@wto
#MC12
#TRIPSWaiver
Geneva Health Files Newsletter Edition
#146
via
@pretpat
0
25
36
Text-based discussions on IP waiver proposal gain traction at TRIPS Council, some countries sceptical: sources
United States, China, Ukraine, New Zealand joined the co-proponents in favor of negotiations on the proposal. Proposal now has support of 63 countries.
#TRIPSwaiver
1
20
35
Smoke and mirrors on the status of the Quad outcome text
@wto
#TRIPSWaiver
Media being played with misinformation. There is no consensus between key members.
This could suggest efforts to straitjacket a consensus on the waiver, with barely 6 weeks to go till WTO Ministerial
0
19
32
The Lowest Common Denominator: The Quad Text on the
#TRIPSWaiver
@wto
Quotes from
@hyoyoonkang
,
@grumpeoldman
, Sangeeta Shashikant
@3rdworldnetwork
Newsletter Edition
#129
[The Curated Primer] via
@pretpat
@rithika_sk9
3
18
27
Thread: TRIPS Waiver talks
@wto
TRIPS Council Formal Meeting April 30
Co-sponsors to review text of Waiver proposal. Revised proposal to be discussed later in May, ahead of formal TRIPS Council meeting in June.
There are now 60 WTO members co-sponsoring this initiative (1/n)
2
18
27
#TRIPSwaiver
update:
Next week, 29th, Monday, TRIPS Council will be convened by Chair
@NorwayAmbWTO
to discuss with
@wto
members on the way forward, in light of the postponement of
#MC12
0
14
27
Updates 1/n
#TRIPSWaiver
discussions
@wto
TRIPS Council
While opposition to the waiver proposal continues, it appears some members signalled openness to further discussions.
Next TRIPS Council meeting 23rd Feb will be a formal one, to work on a draft report to General Council
0
12
26
0
15
25
TRIPS Council Informal Open-ended meeting
@wto
this morning. Members will discuss the
#TRIPSwaiver
proposal.
Proponents keen on pushing for an early outcome, opponents' position largely unchanged. Expect quid pro quo on Waiver in the context of overall MC12 discussions.
0
13
27
Presenting The Geneva Health Files Podcast:
The Story Of The
#TRIPSwaiver
Episode 01 via
@FilesGeneva
0
10
27
Lots of questions on
#TRIPSWaiver
and COVAX
@gavi
at today's
@IFPMA
briefing. This is what is dominating the conversation now.
0
6
25
Anti-vaxxers do not like our reporting on the
@WHO
Pandemic Treaty Negotiations.
Sending hate mails to us, will not deter us from continuing with public interest global health journalism.
2
6
25
Today
@wto
General Council will consider a status report from the TRIPS Council on the
#TRIPSwaiver
2
6
21
Countries including Canada, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Japan, continued to oppose the waiver proposal. Members including the EU and the U.S. did not want to proceed towards text-based discussions: sources say.
#TRIPSWaiver
@wto
0
13
23
Significant statement from Norway
@WHO
ACT A Facilitation Council meeting:
Calling for voluntary licensing and change in pricing strategies to achieve equitable access for vaccines. Also mentions transparency wrt the industry.
0
19
24
MSF's Leena Menghaney "We don't have ten years to fight this pandemic" cautioning against a narrow interpretation of a waiver and of intellectual property.
@wto
public forum.
0
7
23
Last August we received a call from from a prominent CSO leader asking us why we were criticizing COVAX.
Here's the COVAX thread from our reporting via
@FilesGeneva
(1/n)
Richer countries are rolling out booster shots, yet 98% of people in low-income countries are unvaccinated
What went wrong with
#Covax
, the project aiming to vaccinate the world?
New investigation by
@rosafurneaux
and
@OliviaGoldhill
@statnews
💥💥💥
4
29
24
2
9
21
TRIPS Informal Meeting
#TRIPSwaiver
update: 1/n
Discussions between
@wto
members continue to be in stalemate wrt their positions on the waiver proposal: sources
Chair
@NorwayAmbWTO
seeking directions from members on the way forward.
3
9
19
It is perhaps incorrect to say that the private sector has the seat at the table
@ACTAccelerator
.
It appears it is in the driver's seat to steer pandemic policy response.
From sharing doses with
#COVAX
to optimizing vaccine production, this is a useful summary of the 5 steps needed to ensure
#vaccineequity
:
9
45
103
0
4
21
Thread:
#TRIPSWaiver
update: (1/n)
TRIPS Council Informal Meeting: July 6
Meeting reviewed progress made by small group consultations among countries on July 5.
Countries have been discussing issues of duration and implementation of the waiver proposal.
@wto
1
17
22
Coming Soon: The
#TRIPSWaiver
Negotiations
@wto
, A Compilation from Geneva Health Files
@FilesGeneva
Newsletter Edition
#153
Want a copy, let us know!
1
9
21
Sources indicated to Geneva Health Files that
#PandemicTreaty
talks will likely be considered at a WHA Special Session in November.
Until then inter-governmental discussions to continue, with no fixed deadline for finishing negotiations.
#WHA74
(Evolving story)
0
8
21
Today
@wto
TRIPS Council formal meeting is considering a proposed text from DG
@NOIweala
based on discussions between the Quad group.
The 1st time that all 164 members of the WTO will have an opportunity to discuss this proposed text.
Will it be a turning point?
#TRIPSWaiver
1
12
20
Early days yet, but we will see a repeat of North-South divide on access and tech transfer issues in
@WHO
, mirroring talks at
@wto
The last day and a half of discussions
#INB3
#PandemicAccord
provide indications for this.
1
14
17
In light of the exposé by
@lhfang
on pharma companies lobbying against
#CTAP
& access to COVID-19 vaccines, it is also important to remember that Germany is one of the top funders of
@WHO
. During this period
#CTAP
also struggled to get critical support from countries & companies
Covid-19 drugmakers pressured Twitter to censor activists pushing for generic vaccine by
@lhfang
0
5
12
2
6
21
3
2
18
COVAX expects a decrease in deliveries at a time when global vaccine production will touch 12 billion doses by the end of 2021.
Why? Because all "production" has been allocated to and secured by paying countries - as was revealed in the
@IFPMA
briefing yesterday
"While Q4 will see a dramatic increase in deliveries, this latest forecast reflects a reduction in the number of doses that COVAX expected to receive in 2021."
This is due to export restrictions, delays in regulatory approvals, scale up challenges in the manufacturing of vax.
0
3
2
0
23
20
The declaration of
#monkeypox
as a PHEIC, also underscores the relevance and the importance of the IHR as a central tool to govern health emergencies.
@WHO
Pertinent in the context of
#INB
discussions.
1
3
20
The 75th World Health Assembly became a melting pot for geopolitics, global health security, wars and health emergencies. Sparks flew and brought countries together, even as diplomats clashed on process and meaning across many discussions.
#WHA75
0
10
20
Breaking:
"Quad" text on the waiver discussions b/w the US, the EU, IND, SA, shared with wider WTO membership
@wto
TRIPS Council today's informal meeting.
Members will consider Quad text on Friday's formal meeting of TRIPS Council. WTO General Council meeting next week
2
9
19
Unfair that
@WHO
Fair Pricing Forum excludes the media
If you are finding ways to increase transparency for medicines production, open it up to the media
@DrTedros
@gabbystern
@HealthPolicyW
@StephNebehay
@donatopmancini
@REUTERSFARGE
@Sophie_Mokoena
@ashleighfurlong
@kakape
1
6
18
Surging infections in many parts of the world including India, clearly bust the fallacious argument that vaccines can be hoarded in the developed world because these countries had seen a significant part of the pandemic burden. Hoarding in a pandemic goes against science & equity
0
11
17
#TRIPSWaiver
update: [1/n]
July 14 TRIPS Council Informal Meeting
@WTO
members expected to seek “more time” from the General Council to discuss the IP response to COVID-19: Sources
[Read this as buying more time / further delay in reaching consensus/agreement on the waiver]
1
11
18
SA's Cyril Ramaphosa makes a distinction: mRNA tech transfer hub is fine, but real IP transfer through
#TRIPSwaiver
@WHO
briefing today
0
4
17
Vaccine inequality blamed for boosting global Covid death toll - via
@donatopmancini
via
@FT
2
10
16
SA's Cyril Ramaphosa laying out his terms at
#EUAUSummit
: Identifies the IP challenges on the mRNA hub in Cape Town; asks
@gavi
to buy vaccines from LMIC manufacturers to ensure a market for locally produced vaccines
2
12
16
Today
@wto
TRIPS Council informal meeting.
After 2 days of intense negotiations on the WTO secretariat text on
#TRIPSwaiver
, all members regather at the TRIPS council meeting.
Watch out for our update on this.
0
5
15
In today's presser,
@mariangelasimao
tells us that
@WHO
hopes for the inclusion of therapeutics in
#TRIPSWaiver
discussions at the TRIPS Council
@wto
this week. Many therapeutics for COVID-19 are expensive she said.
1
5
16
At a minimum, there has to be an immediate, official acknowledgement of such incidents at
@WorldHealthSmt
.
Or it will amount to gaslighting of such experiences.
I’ve been mistreated at
@Airport_FRA
by immigration personnel who imagine I want to stay back illegally. My attendance of the
@WorldHealthSmt
is now in doubt. I’m happier & safer back home in Africa. They invite you then mistreat you.
809
4K
14K
0
1
16
The Future of Global Health is Through Diversity and Dignity
A timely podcast from
#GlobalHealthMatters
via
@GarryAslanyan
Listen here:
#Diversity
, Equity, and Inclusion on Editorial Boards of
#GlobalHealth
Journals
Muhammad Romail Manan, Iqra Nawaz, Sara Rahman, Areeba Razzaq, Fatima Zafar, Arisha Qazi &
@LibliKiera
Free Access ✅ ⬅️
#Bioethics
#PublicationEthics
#GlobalSouth
0
13
29
0
4
16
#TRIPSwaiver
update (1/n)
At TRIPS Council meeting today,
@wto
members decided to continue consultations on the proposal by South Africa, India, and the proposal by EU: sources
Members want to continue with the momentum and to find an outcome "under the changed circumstances"
1
12
16
Today
@wto
TRIPS Council Informal Meeting.
On the agenda, to discuss June Ministerial Decision and its potential extension to tests and medicines, going beyond vaccines.
0
5
17
Happening Now:
The Annual Kirby Lecture in International Law: Why It’s Time to Terminate the TRIPS Agreement
"The TRIPS Agreement is a candidate for termination":
Anne Orford, Melbourne Laureate Professor, Melbourne Law School.
#TRIPSWaiver
@wto
0
5
16
Will these revelations by
@HealthJusticeIn
have an impact on transparency, liability and pricing determinants in the negotiations for
#PandemicAccord
and
#IHRAmendments
in Geneva?
We will know in the coming months if countries
@WHO
are willing to challenge the status quo.
After reviewing and studying the documents making up the four Contracts we found that the pernicious nature of pharmaceutical bullying and GAVI’s heavy-handedness are evident: the terms and conditions are overwhelmingly one-sided and favour multinational corporations.
#onesided
1
6
13
0
6
16
Is There a Case for “Common but Differentiated Responsibility” in Global Health?
@WHO
via
@nishantssirohi
Geneva Health Files Newsletter Edition
#19
[Treaty Talks]
1
13
16
@ TRIPS Council: South Africa lists countries facing criticism for using TRIPS Flexibilities:
- Russia & Hungary: for CLs during pandemic
- Colombia & Indonesia: for easing CL procedures
- The Netherlands; EU; Chile; for having discussions on CLs
- SA & India for
#TRIPSWaiver
0
7
17
.
@DrTedros
says a pandemic treaty is a good idea. Gives a political dimension to
#IHR
. Suggests a resolution by May 2021.
#EB148
If realised, it wil be
@WHO
's second treaty after
@FCTCofficial
0
12
17
South Africa protests against discriminstory travel bans in the region. Scientific capability to detect and respond should be appreciated not punished
#WHASS
1
5
16
Developing countries, CSOs, hope they can include TRIPS flexibilities (+waiver ) language in any new Pandemic Accord
@WHO
@wto
discussions are a harbinger on how difficult these negotiations will be
@SarahAnneAarup
@FilesGeneva
@ashleighfurlong
@abinader
The US objected to paragraph 2.18: [We re-affirm the need for a solution on IP in addressing the difficulties faced by developing countries in accessing TRIPS flexibilities to apply automatically to future pandemics, health emergencies and other crises.]
@jamie_love
@ellenthoen
1
8
13
2
8
15
Is the delay the defeat of the
#TRIPSWaiver
discussions
@WTO
?
Newsletter Edition
#140
[Geneva Health Files News Flash] via
@pretpat
0
13
15
Strong statement from India: News rules can be under Art.19 or other provisions of
@WHO
Constitution
Should address: "barriers to development, distribution of medical countermeasures; R&D, IP, tech transfer, scaling up local & regional manufacturing capacity during emergencies"
0
4
16
#TRIPSWaiver
Update: Thread 1/n
TRIPS Council Informal Meeting
@wto
today:
Meeting took stock of small groups consultations over past weeks
Differences remain on ways to address IP issues in the context of the pandemic
Members yet to begin text-based negotiations: sources
1
9
16
More than a billion vaccine doses went waste during COVID-19. And yet none of the on-going negotiations discuss ways to avoid wastage and "expiry" of doses.
Expired doses have been a black box, information that international health agencies, companies, govts, refuse to discuss
Pfizer would rather throw away excess products than voluntarily sharing.
0
11
21
0
8
17
EU Hoarding Then Dumping COVID Vaccines Highlights Pandemic Accord Equity Challenge
0
7
17
Brazil questions why language on IP in brackets in the Conceptual Zero Draft ("Why this differential treatment to this section") Argues whole draft is in brackets
#PandemicAccord
#INB3
@WHO
0
5
16
India is grieving the passing of one of the finest health bureaucrats the country has seen: Keshav Desiraju.
We offer our condolences to his family and to countless others who have been inspired by his work.
0
6
16
"If the U.S. can be brought on board with a text that will be agreeable to both sides, opponents to
#TRIPSwaiver
will “fall in line with the American position.” There is pressure on the U.S., to show moral leadership in wake of the crisis in Afghanistan": a trade diplomat said.
0
7
15
TRIPS Council this week:
@WTO
members met again on 16 December. It appears developed countries managed to indefinitely extend the deadline to decide on the extension decision.
0
5
15
Countries that supported TRIPS waiver proposal
@wto
today:
Tanzania on behalf of the African Group, Chad on behalf of the LDC members, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Venezuela, Honduras, Nepal, Nicaragua, Egypt, Indonesia, Argentina, Tunisia, Mali, Mauritius and Mozambique
0
13
15
What Weak Governance Means for Digital Health: A View from the Field via
@saralmdavis
;
No Consensus yet on COVID Meds & Tests
@wto
Geneva Health Files Newsletter Edition
#164
[The Curated Primer] via
@pretpat
0
11
16
2
10
16
"TRIPS Council has not yet completed its consideration of the waiver request and may not be able to do so within the 90 days stipulated in Article IX:3 of the Marrakesh Agreement"
@wto
. TRIPS Council will continue to consider proposal and report back to General Council: sources
0
7
16
India: The Quagmire for COVAX; &
Q&A: Hyo Yoon Kang on the financialization of intellectual property & its implications for the pandemic
@hyoyoonkang
Geneva Health Files Newsletter Edition
#49
[The Weekly Primer] via
@pretpat
1
7
16
Today, the European Parliament will vote on the
#TRIPSwaiver
"If the vote goes in favor of patent waivers, it will be hard for the European Commission — the union’s unelected body — to continue blocking negotiations."
More and more countries are agreeing: the pandemic will not end until the world starts producing more vaccines.
So what’s stopping patent waivers and local manufacturing? The EU, writes
@antelava
in the Infodemic.
0
3
5
1
11
14
We regret to inform you that we have to put on hold our writing activities due to a medical emergency over the weekend. We will be back with our newsletters in 3 weeks.
We will continue to share information on twitter.
6
2
13
Palpable tension as
@WHO
member states discuss the way forward and next steps. No consensus has been reached, as countries clearly need more time to conclude negotiations. No decision has been made yet.
#PandemicAgreement
Watch this space
0
11
15
A young person studying to be a doctor, interested in global health wrote to us, citing the inability to afford us.
Yes, we offer discounted subscriptions to students! Write to us!
We are glad that aspiring global health geeks find our reporting useful! The future is yours!
0
3
15
"COVAX has mostly been a warehouse & distribution centre for doses initially allocated/controlled by HICs (doses donated or “sold") rather than a competitive purchaser that managed to protect LMICs’ right to access in the face of powerful HICs, which was its main raison d’être.”
0
7
14
#TRIPSWaiver
update (1/n)
TRIPS Council Formal Meeting today:
@wto
members updated on small group consultations (US, EU, SA, IND)
1
8
15