Proposals for new and innovative sources of funding to stimulate R&D
Based on the outcomes of the Intergovernmental Working Group on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property, the 61st World Health Assembly adopted the global strategy and the agreed parts of the plan of action on public health, innovation and intellectual property Resolution WHA61.21 in May 2008.
Resolution WHA61.21 on the Global strategy and plan of action on public health, innovation and intellectual property, in particular paragraph 4(7) requested the Director-General … “to establish urgently a results-oriented and time-limited expert working group to examine current financing and coordination of research and development, as well as proposals for new and innovative sources of funding to stimulate research and development related to Type II and Type III diseases and the specific research and development needs of developing countries in relation to Type I diseases, and open to consideration of proposals from Member States, and to submit a progress report to the Sixty second World Health Assembly and the final report to the Sixty-third World Health Assembly through the Executive Board”.
The Expert Working Group on R&D financing was established in November 2008. At its first meeting held in Geneva from 12 to14 January 2009, the Expert Working Group agreed to invite member states and other stakeholders to submit proposals within the context and scope of the paragraph cited above on innovative sources of funding to stimulate R&D related to diseases that disproportionately affect developing countries, for consideration by the Expert Group.
Leading up to the second meeting of the Expert Working Group on R&D Financing in June 2009, WHO has set up a web-based public hearing. Individuals, civil society groups, government institutions, academic and research institutions, the private sector and other interested parties are invited to contribute to the open hearing between 7 March to 15 April.
In providing your contributions, you may wish to consider the following: focus on diseases that disproportionately affect developing countries, feasibility of the financing model proposed, and likely contribution to fostering innovation and building R&D capacity. Modelling the proposal on R&D needs for a specific disease or group of diseases and/or including any existing examples at national or international levels may facilitate better understanding of the concepts and ideas proposed.
The proposals will be reviewed by members of the Expert Working Group, and will be further discussed at the second meeting of the Group in June 2009.