In 2009 The Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) endorsed a Statement of Principles and Strategies for the Equitable Dissemination of Medical Technologies, developed by a number of leading North American universities.

While UBC was consulted during the development of these principles, it initially withheld its endorsement pending public consultation with its stakeholders.

Following positive stakeholder consultation, which closed on December 31, 2009, UBC endorsed the AUTM Statement of Principles and Strategies for the Equitable Dissemination of Medical Technologies on January 10, 2010.

Comments were received from UBC Faculty, students and the UBC-UAEM Chapter. A summary of these comments is as follows:

• All respondents fully endorsed UBC signing on to the Statement of Principles and Strategies for the Equitable Dissemination of Medical Technologies ("Statement of Principles").
• Many noted that this was a good first step and appreciated the power of a coalition of credible voices as a means of encouraging change and advancing practices in this area.
• Some noted that UBC's endorsement of this Statement of Principles should supplement and not supplant the UBC Global Access Principles published in 2007 which dealt with a broader range of technology application addressing issues related to the environment, food security, and sustainability.
• The commitment to developing meaningful metrics in this area was welcomed. They should be clear and publicly available.
• There were many suggestions for consideration when this Statement of Principles is reviewed in 2011. These include: 
  • Ensuring that the process for revision of the Statement of Principles is open and inclusive
  • Including medical devices and diagnostics
  • Bringing more clarity to treatment of IP in countries like China, India, Russia and Brazil which have considerable manufacturing power and wealthy elite yet large proportions of the population are “patient poor” and would benefit from low cost access to medical technologies
  • Recognizing that generic completion is the mechanism that ensures the lowest possible price.
  • Many respondents applauded UBC for its leadership role in this area and its open, consultative process in the development of global access principles and practices.

Jordan Sloshower, a Canadian medical student at Yale commented, "I have always been proud of UBC for leading Canada with its strong principles on access to medicines and I would hope it will continue to lead the nation by signing on to this document."

Links:

• The Statement of Principles and Strategies for the Equitable Dissemination of Medical Technologies
• Signatories
• UBC Reports Feature