Hib vaccine & WHO

[Guest guest]

Copied as fair use from India Drug.

Vijay

-------------------------------------

India-Drug : Open letter to WHO regarding Hib vaccine & WHO policy and global

public health concerns

**********************************************************************

ALL INDIA DRUG ACTION NETWORK

(http://aidanindia.wordpress.com/)

A-60, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110 016, India, Tel: 91-11-26512385,

57, Tejaswinagar, Dharwad 580 002, India, Tel: 91-836-2461722,

----------------------------------------------------------------------

10th May 2010

Dear Dr Margaret Chan,

This is with regard to AIDAN letter dated 23rd April 2010 (copied below for your

reference) since there has been no reply from your side, we have decided to take

the issue for public opinion.

Best wishes

Dr Gopal Dabade

drdabade@...,

+91 9448862270

+91 836 2461722

Date & #65533; 23rd April 2010

To,

Dr Margaret Chan,

Director-General of WHO,

Avenue Appia 20

1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland, chanm@...,

Dear Dr Margaret Chan

Greetings from India,

There have been deep concerns related to the New Vaccines. The HPV vaccine

trials have raised many questions. The reports related to influence of the

pharmaceuticals and vaccine manufacturers in having the Human Influenza H1N1

declared level 6 pandemic have definitely contributed to rising concerns about

issues related to conflict of interest

A letter published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research, April 2010, page

numbers 588-589, titled " Incomplete reporting of research in press releases: Et

tu, WHO, (http://www.icmr.nic.in/ijmr/ijmr.htm) however is suggestive of

something more sinister and grave. Here the WHO has issued a press statement

(with some other international agencies) deliberately misleading decision

makers. The press release suggests the vaccine was useful when actually the

study showed no benefit (no statistical difference between those vaccinated and

controls -not counting posthoc analysis presented without proper multiple

testing). It is interesting that soon after this study, WHO declared that the

need for the Hib vaccine was proved and all countries must introduce it in their

national immunization programme.

(http://www.who.int/immunization/REH_47_8_pages.pdf)-

After the study, and after WHO made it compulsory for all countries to use Hib,

they (WHO partner GAVI) supplied the vaccine to poor countries at highly

subsidized rates, using funds from donor countries and the Bill & Melinda Gates

foundation & #65533; meant for the MDGs (referred to as Global Fund below).

Given that the vaccine is not beneficial in Asia, this suggests that Global Fund

was defrauded of millions of dollars meant for the poor and this money was

siphoned off to vaccine manufacturers who sit on the GAVI board. In its place a

worthless vaccine was supplied. It is no point saying that the vaccine has been

useful in other areas of the world. The studies in Asia were done because it was

felt the situation here was different.

Those who are responsible of issuing the misleading press release and defrauding

the Global Fund of millions cannot go Scot free under protection of the UN

charter. There has to be accountability.

We sincerely hope that you will hold an inquiry into how this has happened and

that appropriate action is taken to prevent a recurrence of similar incidents. A

press release with clarifications also needs to be issued. In countries with

limited resources, other unmet nutritional and health needs, introduction of

such technologies is acceptable only if epidemiologically warranted.

You would obviously want to look into this as WHO is held in high esteem by

millions who need its contribution. The concerns related to conflict of interest

because of corporate partnerships are increasing The WHO under your leadership

needs to look into these, take action and inform the concerned public about the

measures taken.

As public health emergencies increase due to increasing food insecurity, climate

change etc, decisions regarding optimum use of scarce resources becomes even

more important for developing countries.

We hope you understand the deep concerns about recommendations being given by

WHO under such circumstances and we hope to hear from you.

We stand committed to WHO's principles of Comprehensive Primary Health care and

also Principles of Rational Use of Medicines.

Sincerely,

1.Dr Mira Shiva, Co-convener, mirashiva@..., +91 9810582028

2. Dr Gopal Dabade, Co-convener, drdabade@..., +91 9448862270

3. Mr Srinivasan S, Joint-convener, sahajbrc@..., +91 9998771064

4. Dr Anurag Bhargav, Member, abhar786@...,

5. Dr Anant Phadke, Member, anant.phadke@..., +91 9423531478

6. Dr S L Pawar,Member, & #65533; pawarsl@..., +91 9449354415

7. M.R.Krishnan, Member, mrkrishnan44@..., +91 9382782657.

Copy to:-

1) Ms Sujatha Rao, Secretary for Health, <ksujatharao@...>

2) DG of ICMR, dg@...

Dr Gopal Dabade,

57, Tejaswinagar,

Dharwad 580 002

INDIA

Tel 0836-2461722

Cell (0)9448862270

www.jagruti.org

http://aidanindia.wordpress.com/

www.daf-k.cjb.net