IDSA presents priorities at World Health Assembly

The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) presented and joined statements reflecting various aspects of its priorities at the 71st World Health Assembly in Geneva last week.

In one statement, IDSA expressed its support for recommendations on the global strategy and plan of action on public health, innovation and intellectual property from an expert review panel at the assembly. The recommendations included prioritizing research and development (R&D) related to overwhelmingly infectious Type III diseases and supporting collaboration between internationally recognized R&D and institutions in developing nations.

In another statement, IDSA joined the Global Health Council, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and Management Sciences for Health in recognizing World Health Organization (WHO) efforts to strengthen its role in public health preparedness and response. The groups also urged WHO to accelerate efforts towards improving various core health emergency capacities, including health systems and workforces, and called on international donors to work with WHO to expedite the implementation of national action plans against outbreaks.

IDSA also presented a statement in collaboration with the Global Health Council, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, the Global Health Technologies Coalition, and Partners in Health commending work to prepare for the upcoming United Nations High-Level Meeting on ending tuberculosis (TB).

The statement also expressed support for efforts to establish a political declaration based on human rights, equity, and medical science that sets targets related to ending TB. The statement urged the inclusion of targets for finding a missing 4 million cases, improving treatment and prevention and increasing investments in research and development for diagnostic, preventive and treatment tools. It also called for the inclusion of child-specific targets and targets addressing antimicrobial resistance.