2012: EC/WHO global agreement on innovation and health at the global level

Key elements of the agreement

i) Expansion of existing collaborations;

ii) global prioritization of health research;

iii) global classification system for health research;

iv) new support mechanisms for health innovation in developing countries;

v) monitoring and evaluation tools for global public health interventions.

Update on the progress made with the implementation of the agreement so far

The importance of innovation in health is mutually recognized by both the European Commission (EC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). There is mutual agreement to continue existing successful collaborations and develop new contacts, whenever relevant. During the last year, the following highlights can be mentioned: 

  • EC and WHO have collaborated with TDR to develop the "Global report on research priorities for infectious diseases of poverty".
  • EC and WHO have collaborated on establishing innovative mechanisms for health research and innovation in developing countries, most notably the European and Developing Countries Clinical trials Partnership (EDCTP) and the African Network for Drugs and Diagnostics Innovation (ANDI).
  • As part of the implementation of the Global Strategy and Plan of Action for Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property (GSPA-PHI), EC and WHO have collaborated in the development of support mechanisms for pilot countries on national innovation polices and associated capacity building including in the areas of transfer of technology for local production of essential medicines, vaccines and diagnostics.

Major challenges

Some delays were encountered in the finalization of the “Global report”, but the findings and the document will be launched in Brussels on April 17, 2012.

Future steps

The following specific areas of possible future collaboration at global level have been identified:

  • Ongoing successful collaborations should continue and additional synergies should be explored in support of the WHO's global strategy and plan of action on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property and relevant EU initiatives on global health such as EDCTP.
  • EC and WHO have collaborated to develop the "Global report on research priorities for infectious diseases of poverty". Future collaborations in this area may consider going beyond type II and type III diseases and include non-communicable diseases and public health.
  • EC and WHO may collaborate to develop an improved global classification system for health research.
  • EC and WHO may collaborate to strengthen existing or establish new mechanisms for supporting health research and innovation in developing countries.
  • EC and WHO may collaborate to develop a monitoring and evaluation framework for the global strategy and plan of action on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property.
  • EC and WHO may collaborate on active and healthy ageing. In relation to the active and healthy ageing agenda, four areas of collaboration in the European region were identified (as also indicated in the EC/WHO EURO roadmap):
  • Monitoring: sharing methodologies, indicators, methodologies, in particular for reference sites
  • Sharing good-practices and methodologies on Age-Friendly Cities
  • Sharing data and evidence e.g. collaborate on the Marketplace, and WHO e-portal, and identification of common priorities in research agendas
  • Sharing guidelines and best practices

In particular, collaboration could be envisaged to increase access for older populations to technologies that will allow them to remain healthy, active and independent for a longer period of time. 

  • Future collaborations of relevance to "Innovation and Health" may also be envisaged in a number of additional areas, e.g. global aspects of antimicrobial resistance, which are described in details under "Health Security".