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
