Date: 20 January 2011

Source: http://keionline.org/node/1063

Link: http://keionline.org/sites/default/files/CEWGconflictofinterestNGOsignon.pdf

On January 20, 2011, 9 civil society organizations sent a letter to the WHO Executive Board registering an objection to the selection of Dr. Paul Herrling of Novartis to the WHO Consultative Expert Working Group on Research and Development: Financing and Coordination. The groups signing the letter were:

• CIDEPRO
• Déclaration de Berne - Berne Declaration
• HAI Europe
• HAI Global
• Health GAP (Global Access Project)
• Knowledge Ecology International
• Médecins Sans Frontières, Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines
• Oxfam International
• Third World Network

20 January 2011
TO: Dr. Mihaly Kökény, Chairman, WHO Executive Board
CC: Dr. Paulo Buss, Vice-Chairman, WHO Executive Board

The undersigned organizations oppose the appointment of Novartis executive Dr Paul Herrling to the new WHO Consultative Expert Working Group (CEWG) on R&D Financing. In collaboration with Novartis and the
industry trade association IFPMA, Dr Herrling is the author of the Fund for R&D in Neglected Diseases (FRIND) proposal. Dr. Herrling is also the co-author of the PDP Plus proposal. The CEWG is expected to evaluate the FRIND and the PDP Plus proposals. The appointment of Dr. Herrling creates a conflict of interest. We note that a conflict of interest may exist even if no unethical or improper act results from it, and also
that both actual and perceived conflicts of interest can undermine the reputation and work of the CEWG.
Sincerely,
CIDEPRO
Déclaration de Berne -Berne Declaration
HAI Europe
HAI Global
Health GAP (Global Access Project)
Knowledge Ecology International
Medecins Sans Frontieres, Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines
Oxfam International
Third World Network