Back from Forum 2012 in Cape Town, SA

With the support from COHRED Group (Geneva), Aviesan held a session on Health Technology Transfer, as part of the Global Forum 2012. It was of course an opportunity to present HTech4Dev program and progress, but the main purpose of the session was to focus on  the necessary (contextual and pragmatic) elements  for the transfer of health technologies toward Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs).  Topics related to health technologies (infrastructure, developmental challenges, market and regulatory acceptance) were presented and discussed.   In addition, boarder topics of intellectual property, jurisdictional approaches, social acceptance and impact were presented and discussed. Thanks to all of our speakers who travelled from far away (Bangladesh, Canada, Europe and Thailand) to share with the audience their experience  in the use of new technologies to fill the gap between developed and under-developed economies. 

During the first part of the session, the orators nicely pictured the great promises of some nano-based technologies as solutions to basic human health problems. Some presenters described regional examples/challenges for the successful implementation and use of tele-medicine. An informative and enlightening lecture given by the President of the European Group on Ethics  who provided some clues on how Africa may better valorize by building an environment prone to protect Africa generated intellectual property. A presentation by WHO (World Health Organization) Assistant Director-General for ‘Innovation, Information, Evidence and Research’ detailed success, and evidenced that local production of therapeutics in Africa can be viable.  Participants from several key organizations were present and contributed to the stimulating discussions.  Representatives from IFPMA (the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Association) and WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization) illustrated the specificity and challenges to be addressed on health technologies transfer in LMICs. An outstanding presentation was made by the President of the Cameroon Bioethics Initiative who explained on the African social move needed toward the acceptance of these new technologies.   

Prof Carel IJsselmuiden, Director COHRED

Judging from the level of participant’s engagement and discussions (going well beyond the scheduled time, follow-up actions and networking), the session on Health Technology Transfer was a success.  

All these presentations will be made available soon on Forum 2012 website (www.forum2012.org).

Dr Jacques Grassi, Director ITS, Aviesan

Dr Marie-Paule Kieny, WHO Assistant Director-General

Dr François Hirsch, Aviesan ITS

Prof. Julian Kinderlerer, Cape Town University