Sharing Of Samples Crucial To The Battle Against Bird Flu - S'pore
By Jackson Sawatan
Bernama, 3 May 2006

SINGAPORE, May 3 (Bernama) -- Singapore has called for greater transparency and openness in the fight against bird flu, particularly in the sharing of samples to facilitate research about the disease.

Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan said that although there were concerns especially among the affected countries about giving samples to other countries, but not doing so would lead to the deepening of the problem.

"Some countries are reluctant to share samples because they worry about intellectual property rights or not receiving a fair share of the scientific credit.

"There is also concern that information from samples shared will be used to develop diagnostic kits and vaccines which will, in turn, be sold back to the affected country at inflated prices," he said at the Lancet Asia Medical Forum 2006 on "Preparing for Pandemic Influenza: The Avian Dimension and
 

Other Emerging Diseases", here Wednesday.

Khaw said that although some might think that the concerns were unfounded but real or perceived, such concerns must be addressed.

"At the most fundamental level, there is a need to build relationships of sincerity and trust. We face a common enemy which disregards national politics and boundaries, and our response must be a united, global one," he said.

While politically, each government would need to take care of the interests of its citizens and keep them informed of infectious disease threats, this must be balanced carefully so as not to make the situation more difficult than it already is for countries grappling with an outbreak.

"At the same time, each of us must humbly acknowledge that on our own, we lack the resources and capabilities to fight such a formidable foe," he said.
 

Khaw quoted a March 3 issue of Science magazine which reported that there were prevalence of scientific agencies holding back information.

"If key research institutions and international organizations are not or are perceived to be less than transparent and open, then the fundamental relationship of sincerity and trust between all parties cannot be built," he said.

The inaugural Lancet Asia Medical Forum 2006 was attended by some 400 participants from Asia and around the world as key health administrators, experts from the medical and scientific communities grapple with the disease which has killed over a hundred people since 2003.-- BERNAMA