Call from W.H.O. to SADC procurement agencies to participate in a survey

[Geoffrey Ngwira]

Dear Colleagues

[The below text is from Ellen 't Hoen who is a consultant to the World Health Organisation (WHO). We have been asked to post it on this forum as they are trying to reach procurement professionals in SADC countries for their participation in a survey on patent status information. Please see also section 4.4 of the recently distributed draft regionals standards, which talks about patents in relation to TRIPS].

 

WHO is carrying out a survey to assess the need for patent status information among international and national health agencies and selected national procurement agencies. Such agencies seem to be in need of patent information and some have approached the WHO with requests for patent information on specific products. Sources of patent status information for HIV medicines, such as the Medicines Patent Pool database exist and have been welcomed by many procurement actors. However the extent of the need for patent status information in other health areas is not known. With this survey WHO hopes to fill the knowledge gap and to obtain an overview of the needs of international and national health agencies and in particular of procurement agencies with regards to patent status information. We are especially interested in hearing the needs of procurement agents.

If you would you like to participate in the survey please send a message to Ellen 't Hoen: ellent...@gmail.com.

 

Thank you

 

Geoffrey Ngwira