Developed country attachés in Geneva for intellectual property and for health are invited to meet in a closed session tomorrow to exchange information in the run-up to the annual World Health Assembly taking place in late May.

According to a source from the so-called Group B, which lumps developed countries from various regions together at the World Intellectual Property Organization, the “low key” meeting is being organised to try to break silos in which some delegates are working, and the lack of information flowing between delegates following intellectual property issues at WIPO and those following global health issues at the World Health Organization.

The meeting will be held at WIPO for practical reasons, according to the source. It will discuss issues on the agenda of the World Health Assembly, taking place from 21-26 May, such as the Global strategy and plan of action on public health, innovation and intellectual property, and addressing the global shortage of, and access to, medicines and vaccines.

Group B decided earlier this year that it would be useful to bring together health attachés and IP attachés regularly to share information.