Devex: WHO’s controversial next steps to improve access to medicines
“A majority of countries cheered the World Health Organization’s draft roadmap on access to medicines presented this week, applauding its relevance in the struggle to achieve universal health coverage. But several stakeholders think the draft requires continued consultations on key — and controversial — issues…” (Ravelo, 1/31).

Health Policy Watch: Board Debates Medicines Access; WHO Asserts Mandate On IP, Trade Issues
“…The roadmap is expected to be amended, following the numerous comments, and presented to the World Health Assembly in May…” (Saez, 1/30).

Health Policy Watch: WHO Member States Call For Transparency, Access To Innovation On Cancer Drug Pricing
“A substantive discussion took place at the World Health Organization Executive Board meeting [Tuesday] in response to a recently released WHO report on cancer drug pricing. Among the variety of perspectives expressed, many formed consensus in calling for increased transparency of research and development (R&D) costs and equitable access to innovative cancer drugs…” (Branigan, 1/30).

Health Policy Watch: Italy & United States: Remove Reference To Sugary Drink Tax From WHO NCDs Report
“Representatives of Italy and the United States [Wednesday] asked the World Health Organization to remove a summary of evidence on how taxes on sugar-sweetened drinks may help reduce unhealthy sugar consumption from its latest progress report on tackling non-communicable disease (NCDs). The WHO Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases update and companion workplan, following on from the United Nations General Assembly’s High-Level Meeting on NCDs in September 2018, were under review by WHO’s 34-member Executive Board, in advance of the World Health Assembly meeting of all WHO member states, scheduled for May…” (Fletcher, 1/30).