Delivered by Mario Ottiglio, Director, Public Affairs, Communications & Global Health Policy

Check against delivery – Item 5.1, Framework of engagement with non-State actors

Thank you for the opportunity to contribute to this important discussion today. IFPMA represents leading research-based pharmaceutical companies as well as national and regional industry associations across the world.

IFPMA welcomes continued efforts to design a framework allowing WHO to fulfil its leadership role in global health and its mandate by engaging with a varied set of actors while managing any perception of and actual conflict of interest.

The landscape of global health is complex and collaborative approaches are now integral to much of the work needed to address our shared challenges. A new framework should guarantee at the same time better protection and more interaction, in order to facilitate health outcomes rather than prevent them.

Transparent engagement with all non-state actors should be linked to the concept of accountability by all. These are key metrics for the WHO to assess tangible contributions of non-state actors to achieving its objectives.

Provisions in the Framework should be applied equally among all non-state actors, so that everybody’s interest can best serve the shared objective of making this world a healthier place.

We would like to suggest that prior to the entry into force of this Framework, the Secretariat could stress-test its provisions against existing best practice in WHO’s interactions with non-state actors so that we can witness its impact on important implementation work, such as the NCD Global Coordination Mechanism, emergencies such as Ebola, or hosted partnerships.

As well, IFPMA would welcome the creation of public guidelines that clarify both application and interpretation of this Framework for all parties.

Where conflicts of interests, whether commercial or not, may arise, it is appropriate that these are managed in a robust, clear, transparent and equitable manner. By achieving the latter, we will be able to harness the full potential of all non-state actors to better meet shared global health goals.

About IFPMA

IFPMA represents the innovative pharmaceutical industry at the international level, engaging in official relations with the United Nations and multilateral organizations. Our vision is to ensure that scientific progress translates into the next generation of medicines and vaccines that deliver a healthier future for people everywhere.

To achieve this, we act as a trusted partner, bringing our members' expertise to champion pharmaceutical innovation, drive policy that supports the research, development, and delivery of health technologies, and create sustainable solutions that advance global health.

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Media Contact

Elliot Dunster e.dunster@ifpma.org