WHO's decision to 'monitor' R&D 'deeply disappointing'

In this PLoS "Speaking of Medicine" blog post, Julien Potet and Katy Athersuch of Medecins Sans Frontieres' (MSF) Access Campaign say that the WHO's decision last week to "simply continue monitoring" the medical research and development (R&D) industry's ability to address the needs of people living in developing countries "by creating a global R&D 'observatory'" is "a deeply disappointing outcome that will not help re-shape priorities, increase funding or catalyze development of urgently needed new medical tools; at best it will only underscore further how badly these actions are needed." They discuss how access to new tools, technologies, and treatments "can save lives" and some of the progress made in expanding R&D. Advocates' "pressure will be critical for engaging governments and mobilizing the public leadership needed to support the research for cures that millions of neglected patients await," they conclude (12/6).