U.S., RI move closer to bird flu deal

Abdul Khalik and Desy Nurhayati , The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Tue, 04/15/2008 11:40 AM | Headlines

TO YOUR HEALTH: U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Michael Levitt (right) shakes hands with Indonesian Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari following a meeting at the State Palace in Jakarta on Monday. (JP/Berto Wedhatama)

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The United States and Indonesia have moved closer to an agreement on a bird flu sample sharing scheme, paving the way for smoother global discussion to allow developing countries access to cheap medicines and vaccines.

After meeting with President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono here Monday, visiting U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Michael O. Leavitt said both countries were committed to resolving differences between them, including the contentious issue of bird flu sample sharing.

"We had a very frank discussion about our views on sample sharing. As indicated, we are making progress. I understand better the concerns that have been expressed, and the need for people in Indonesia to have access to medicines and vaccines," he told a press briefing.

Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari and Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Aburizal Bakrie accompanied Leavitt in meeting with the President.

Siti has stirred Indonesia's relations with the United States with her book Saatnya Dunia Berubah, Tangan Tuhan di Balik Flu Burung (It's time for the world to change, divine hands behind bird flu). In it she suggest the United States and the World Health Organization have conspired to force developing countries like Indonesia into buying expensive bird flu vaccines.

In the controversial book, Siti also expresses suspicion that the United States is producing "biological weapons" from bird flu samples sent by Indonesia to the WHO at its Los Alamos laboratory.

While admitting to not having read the book, Leavitt said it was inaccurate.

"I can say with authority that particular assertion is not true. However, we want to work very closely and find mutual benefits among our people because we have many in common concerning a global pandemic," he said.

Although Indonesia should differentiate between the issue of sample sharing and that of access to medicines and vaccines, Leavitt said, he trusted Yudhoyono's commitment to mutual cooperation.

"Likewise, I have expressed how important I believe it is that there is free and transparent sharing of viruses. We have a team that is working to assure that we are dealing with both of those issues independently," he said.

Siti said that among six articles in the Material Transfer Agreement (MTA), a scheme of global sample sharing rules discussed at the recent World Health Assembly in Geneva, only the issue of benefits had not been agreed upon.

"We want concrete benefits because it is our right as we have to share our virus samples. We want to conclude the MTA before we resume sending the virus samples," she said.

The key point already agreed upon, Siti said, is to change the name of the bird flu virus network from the Global Influenza Surveillance Network (GISN), which falls under U.S. jurisdiction, to the WHO Influenza Network (WIN), which is under the WHO's auspice.

WIN, which is regulated under international law, allows for tracking of virus samples so the world can know who uses the samples, she said.

"It is also agreed there will be an advisory mechanism. I have asked them to let Indonesia become a member of the council," she said.

During a seminar to establish a national surveillance of wild birds in the West Java town of Bogor on Monday, Heru Setijanto of the National Commission on Avian Influenza said only two out of the country's 33 provinces were free from bird flu.

(Theresia Sufa contributed to this story from Bogor)