Newsletter August 2003

Commission launches recommendations on genetic testing

A high level expert group have made 25 recommendations to ensure that genetic testing is used responsibly. The expert groups included academics, industry and civil society representatives and they addressed the social, ethical and legal implications at a conference in Brussels on 6-7 May 2004/ The conference, organised by DG Research resulted in a call to ensure that genetic testing remain a matter of free choice. The 25 (...)

No advance on indigenous peoples’ health and rights

As the United Nations Decade of the World’s Indigenous People comes to an end, a study reveals that, far from seeing improvements in their situation over the past ten years, the world’s indigenous peoples feel their voices are not being listened to, and that their health needs and rights are continuing to be ignored and marginalised. "Utz’ Wach’il: health and wellbeing among indigenous peoples" is based on a study by Health Unlimited, a British NGO supporting poor (...)

MSF and Oxfam say WTO drugs deal is "flawed"

The WTO agreement of 30 August 2003, which is ostensibly intended to get drugs to the poorest countries, does not provide a workable solution, according to Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and Oxfam. "Today’s deal was designed to offer comfort to the US and the Western pharmaceutical industry," said Ellen ’t Hoen of MSF. "Unfortunately, it offers little comfort for poor patients. Global patent rules will continue to drive up the price of medicines." The original intention of the (...)

Cancun workshop: Access to healthy nutrition

The Wemos Foundation, an EPHA member, is organising a workshop on Food and Nutritional Security during the World Trade Organisation Ministerial meeting in Cancun, Mexico in September 2003. The event will take place at 14.00 on 12 September. The event is a result of joint advocacy by civil society groups and organisations involved in food, nutrition, trade and health issues. Southern and Northern partners will address their national governments and the relevant regional organisations or (...)

Pose your questions on Cancun to Lamy

Europe’s chief trade negotiator Pascal Lamy will be online from 18:00 on Thursday 4th September to answer questions on the Cancun ministerial. Click here for more infor on how to participate in the chat.

Seventh edition of "Drugs and Money"

Many member states have over the years approached the WHO for advice or information on the feasibility of measures to control the growth of expenditure on medicines. Such calls for help led the Organization as early as 1983 to undertake a study under the title "Drugs and Money"; it culminated in a deliberately concise report, providing a critical overview of the effectiveness of older cost-containment schemes while also paying attention to innovative ventures. The report was widely used (...)

Job vacancies in IPPF

The International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) is looking for staff to join their Brussels team. Click here for more info.

August 2003, IGC Preparations and Member State Positions on the Convention

THE IGC Italian Presidency says "European Constitution, Agreement Not Easy, Not Impossible", 28th July Presidency website. Finding a compromise solution to allow for the adoption of a future European Constitution "will not be easy but it won’t be impossible either," according to Premier and European Union duty president Silvio Berlusconi. Italy intends to play a neutral role in the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) which it hopes will complete its work by December 10, he said (...)

New environmental health news website

This new website contains daily links to press coverage of environmental health isuses, plus links to science digests of new, relevant findings and links to reports by organizations working on related issues. The email newsletter contains headlines, short descriptions and links to newstories appearing on the front page of the website, usually 5-7 articles per day. An additional link is provided to a page with additional stories, sometimes as many as 30 in one day. If you want to receive (...)

Info Pack for Cancun

The European Commission has prepared an agriculture information pack for the upcoming WTO Ministerial meeting in Cancún, Mexico from 10 to 14 September 2003. The information material contains facts and figures about the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and its history of reforms, the EU’s approach for Cancún, especially regarding developing countries and non-trade concerns and a glossary which helps to decipher WTO- and (...)