WHO working group on counterfeits 'delayed'

The World Health Organization has had to postpone a meeting of its recently-mandated working group on counterfeit, falsely-labelled and substandard medicines because it has yet to be set up.

"Following consultation with Member States, the meeting was postponed to early 2011," says a note from WHO Director-General Margaret Chan, available here.

The plan is now for a meeting to be held towards the end of February, according to a report on the Intellectual Property Watch website.

Last May, the WHO said it would establish an intergovernmental working group on counterfeit medical products after months of controversy in which it was accused of being overly influenced by the intellectual property interests of the branded pharmaceutical industry.

At the time, Chan confirmed that this working group would restrict itself to public health issues only and would not cover the topic of access to generic medicines related to trade and IPR issues.

India's WHO delegation said the delay was a real concern and suggested that the work of the WHO-supported International Medical Products Anti-Counterfeiting Taskforce (IMPACT) - which includes representatives from Interpol and other stakeholders including customs and the pharmaceutical industry -  should be suspended until the working group could evaluate its work, according to IPW.

The working group is due to deliver its first report on the issue to the World Health Assembly in May 2011.


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