AFRO-NETS> WHO statement before WTO Cancun (2)

[Peter Burgess <peterb@iitc.safe-mail.net>]

WHO statement before WTO Cancun (2)
-----------------------------------
 
Dear D. Bagozzi
 
I read the WHO statement for the WTO's 5th Ministerial Conference 
in Cancun and was somewhat encouraged by the observation about pro-
gress made in health over 50 years and the recent backsliding that 
is now taking back the gains.
 
But I don't see much action to address the problem. The Cancun con-
ference failed to get much agreement in large part because the 
SOUTH is now well aware that the global implementing framework for 
success in development for the SOUTH is sadly flawed. For some rea-
son there is little accounting and accountability in development, 
and as long as that is the prevailing situation development failure 
will continue.
 
The world has funds to finance trade in guns...... that are used to 
kill and main and terrorize people.
 
The world does not seem to have funds to finance medicines...... 
that could be used to help people be more healthy and live longer 
and more productive and happier lives.
 
A mess that people of good will everywhere should be ashamed of! 
 
Sincerely
 
Peter Burgess
ATCnet in New York
Tel: +1-212-772-6918 
Fax: +1-707-371-7805
mailto:peterb@iitc.safe-mail.net
 
 
--
>AFRO-NETS> The World Trade Organization's 5th Ministerial Confer-
>ence - Cancun, Mexico 
>Date: 9/11/2003 5:45:35 AM Eastern Daylight Time 
>From: aviva@netnam.vn
> 
>The World Trade Organization's 5th Ministerial Conference - Cancun, Mexico
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------
>STATEMENT BY THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION
> 
>The recent WTO decision on access to affordable medicines is an 
>encouraging move by WTO Members to implement the TRIPS Agreement 
>to the benefit of public health.
> 
>One of our greatest challenges today is to make antiretrovirals 
>available to the more than six million people in need of immedi-
>ate treatment for HIV/AIDS in developing countries. At the same 
>time in many countries, we must tackle other diseases such as ma-
>laria, whose victims are mostly children, and tuberculosis. A key 
>element in this work is also to boost health systems and delivery 
>mechanisms for medicines.
> 
>WHO will work with Member States, WTO and other partners on the 
>implementation of the new agreement and to monitor progress.
> 
>In addition to TRIPS, the WTO agreements that have implications 
>for public health are: Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS), 
>Trade in Services (GATS) and Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT). 
>The health issues most relevant to these include: food safety, 
>cross-border spread of infectious diseases and SPS; health ser-
>vices and GATS; health norms and standards and TBT.
> 
>We believe an overall goal is to help countries achieve greater 
>coherence between trade and health policy so that trade rules 
>maximize health benefits and minimize the risks, especially for 
>poor and vulnerable populations.
> 
>The global health situation has improved during the last 50 
>years. But the successes are sometimes reversed. WHO hopes that 
>the Cancun meeting will be a significant step towards a brighter 
>future with greater health equity.
> 
>D. Bagozzi
>mailto:bagozzid@who.int

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