HIV, TB and malaria gain a joint financing institution

WTO members affirmed that intellectual-property rules should support protection of public health.

The declaration recognized members’ ability to use TRIPS provisions to address health needs.

Governments responded to concerns about affordable treatment during major health crises.

The Doha text did not itself supply drugs; countries still needed to act on its provisions.

The newly formed fund’s board took initial governance decisions for a worldwide health partnership.

Members discussed review processes, monitoring and the fund’s administrative arrangements.

The 28 January meeting established processes rather than documenting completed disease elimination.

The Constitutional Court held that restrictions on nevirapine for preventing mother-to-child transmission were unreasonable.

The case backed demands that public facilities provide treatment where medically indicated.

The ruling addressed government limits on providing nevirapine to pregnant women with HIV.