Minister reminds WHA of promise to create fair virus sharing mechanism

Indonesian Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari reminded the 61st World Health Assembly (WHA) of the promise made at the 60th WHA and IGM-PIP (Inter-Governmental Meeting on Pandemic Influenza Preparedness) last year in Geneva that there would be a fair, transparent and equitable mechanism to share the virus and benefits.

The minister made the reminder when attending the 61st WHA taking place in Geneva on May 19-24 under the theme "Health Related to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)."

According to information from the Indonesian Permanent Representative Office in Geneva, during the meeting, Supari also reaffirmed that virus and benefit sharing was the common responsibility of both developed and developing countries.

She also said members of the World Health Organization (WHO) had approved Indonesia`s proposal that the creation of a new mechanism for virus sharing should be consistent with the laws in the respective countries.

She also said since the debate on the virus and benefit sharing started, the 60-year old Global Initiative Surveillance Network (GISN) system would not be fair, transparent and equitable until the sovereignty and laws of the virus-sending countries were considered.

And thus, ...