At UN, Antibiotics Resistance Discussed But Not Patent Abuse, Of Central African Republic & Paris Silence

By Matthew Russell Lee

UNITED NATIONS, November 16 -- With antibiotic resistance the subject of a UN press conference by  Dr. Nata Menabde, Executive Director of the World Health Organization Office in New York and the UK's Ambassador to the UN Matthew Rycroft on November 16, one expected to hear about the role of patents, or at least about India - but no.

   While Menabde criticized without name countries which don't sufficient regulate antibiotic, the high cost enforced by corporate intellectual properties regimes was not mentioned. So Inner City Press asked.  Manabde responded about systems not ensuring access to well- licenced personnel. It's not a matter of the pharmaceutical companies alone, she said. But isn't it, to some degree?

  The press conference began and ended with refer to theParis Attacks. The UK mission to its credit said antimicrobial questions first, but the turn was soon taken by CBS, if Rycroft foresees a Security Council resolution on the Paris Attacks.  We are in the hands of our French colleagues, Rycroft said again, adding there would be a moment of silence in the Security Council at 3 pm.

   As the morning's Security Council session began at 11 am, two countries' ambassadors told the Press there is no plan yet for a Security Council resolution. The topic of the 11 am meeting was the Central African Republic, so Inner City Press asked UN Peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous as he went in if there is any update on the allegations against peacekeepers there of sexual abuse.

  Ladsous, as is his way, Vine here, did not answer at all. UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric, when Inner City Press asked the same question at the noon briefing, said there is no update. And so it goes at the UN.