Date: 15 February 2011
Source: www.keionline.com
Link: http://keionline.org/node/1078
the Co-Chairs of the WHO Open-Ended Working
Group of Member States on Pandemic Influenza Preparedness: sharing
of influenza viruses and access to vaccines and other benefits
(OEWG)
held a consultation with civil society [1]. The Co-chairs of the OEWG are
Ambassador J. Gomez-Camacho, Mexico and Ambassador B. Angell-Hansen, Norway. Representatives of the Berne Declaration, Consumers
Association of Penang, Knowledge Ecology
International, People`s Health Movement and Third
World Network participated in this consultation with a few WHO member
states including Bangladesh, Brazil, France,
Germany and the United States in attendance.
KEI posed the following questions:
"The Preliminary findings for the technical studies [2] under resolution
WHA63.1 notes that due to the “significant breadth of the areas under
study, and the limited human and financial resources of the Organization
to carry out the full studies, the Secretariat sought external support”
and further notes that the “Bill & Melinda
Gates Foundation agreed to provide support through a contract with McKinsey & Company, which was selected on the
basis of its broad expertise in public health, financing, health
economics, and influenza vaccines; its
ability to start working on the project quickly; and its global team”. In
terms of McKinsey`s selection for undertaking these technical studies,
what was the process employed by the WHO and the Open-Ended Working Group
of Member States on Pandemic Influenza Preparedness: sharing of influenza
viruses and access to vaccines and other benefits (OEWG) in
selecting McKinsey” Did WHO use a competitive bidding process? Did WHO
require McKinsey to declare any conflicts of interest? In terms of a
retainer, how much did McKinsey receive for its work in producing the
Preliminary findings for the technical
studies under resolution WHA63.1? Considering that McKinsey, a leading management
consulting firm, operates on a non-exclusive basis, did its selection
comply with WHO`s conflict of interest policy?"
The Office of the WHO Legal Counsel responded by noting the exigent circumstances
that required WHO seeking external help in preparing the preliminary
technical studies under resolution WHA63.1. In terms of
disclosure, WHO stated that the Organization did not require declarations
of interest from entities, but noted that a transparent process was
followed in notifying WHO member states that the Gates Foundation
"agreed to provide support through a contract with McKinsey &
Company" regarding the technical studies. As entities are not required
to disclose competing interests, WHO did not answer KEI`s question
regarding competing interests McKinsey may have regarding vaccines policy
nor did WHO answer about the remuneration McKinsey received for it work in
preparing the technical studies.
KEI`s interventions were motivated by our interest in having disclosure of
McKinsey`s clients in the vaccine business. In the future, WHO and its
member states may want deepen consideration of the competing interests of consulting firms hired to advise WHO on vaccine policies
especially as they relate to clients that may include vaccine manufacturers,
antiviral manufacturers, other vaccine related consulting work for
businesses, governments or non-profit entities.
On 16 February 2011, KEI wrote the a letter WHO expressing our concerns
regarding the general WHO practices of using consulting firms,
and the specific case of using McKinsey & Company
as an advisor
on vaccine policies. Here is the letter reproduced below:
"16 February 2011TO: Dr. Keiji Fukuda, Assistant Director-General, Health
Security and Environment, World Health Organization
CC: Ambassador J. Gomez-Camacho (Mexico), Ambassador B. Angell-Hansen (Norway),
Steven Solomon,
Principal Legal Officer, World Health Organization.
Dear Dr. Keiji Fukuda,
I am writing to you concerning the general WHO practices of using consulting
firms, and the specific case of using McKinsey & Company as an advisor
on vaccine policies.
Given McKinsey`s role in advising WHO, we would
appreciate information regarding McKinsey?s competing interests as regards
to vaccines policies. For example, we would appreciate a disclosure of
McKinsey?s
work for vaccine manufacturers, antiviral manufacturers, other vaccine related
consulting work for businesses, governments or non-profit entities.
We also request information about the fee that McKinsey was paid for its
recent work on vaccine policy for the WHO in relation to the document
entitled Preliminary findings for the technical studies under resolution
WHA63.1 (http://apps.who.int/gb/pip/pdf_files/OEWG2/PIP_OEWG_Preliminary-findings
... [2]).
Keywords: WHO / McKinsey / Vaccine
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