A compilation of technical papers presented during regional meeting

Overview

The WHA62.16 resolution on Global Strategy and Plan of Action on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property has asked “to conduct an overall programme review of the GSPA-PHI in 2014 on its achievement, remaining challenges and recommendations on the way forward and report to the Assembly in 2015 through the Executive Board.”

The WHA resolution 61.21 identified a number of deliverables under GSPA-PHI and aims to promote new thinking on innovation, transfer of technology and access to medicines.

A literature search on the 25 sub-elements and 8 main elements of GSPA, with the findings analyzed and delineated based on regional and global situation, has been done by SEAMEO-TROPMED on the request of WHO/SEARO.

Included in the search were literature which were published or which referred to activities which were implemented from 2008 onwards. These include journal articles relevant to any of the 8 elements and 25 sub-elements of the GSPA-PHI; reports of meetings held at the global, regional and national levels on areas which are either related solely to the GSPA-PHI, or where GSPA-PHI and/or related issues are items in the agenda; uploaded files of presentations made during these meetings; and reports of commissioned studies related to various aspects of GSPA-PHI.

The results indicate that of the 8 GSPA-PHI elements, it is in the area of prioritizing research and development needs (element #1) where much progress has been done, especially at the global level. At the regional and national levels, the areas where much work still needs to be done are in the application and management of intellectual property to contribute to innovation and promote public health (element #5); improving delivery and access (element #6); promoting sustainable financing mechanisms (element #7); and establishing monitoring and reporting systems (element #8).