Topics Discussions with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna on various issues in the health sector.
The Global Health Subcommittee of the International Committee of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Japan (PMAJ) has been engaged in dialogue with relevant organizations in order to contribute to various international health issues and promote the SDGs. On January 29, 2021, we held an online meeting with the Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The meeting was attended by nearly 30 participants from both parties, including participants from the Pharmaceutical Association and the IAEA, as well as Mr. Takeshi Hikihara, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna. A summary of the meeting is as follows
Scene of the online meeting
The meeting was opened by Dr. Sachiko Nakagawa, Executive Director of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Japan (PMAJ), followed by opening remarks by Mr. Tsuyoshi Hikihara, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Permanent Mission of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna, and an introduction of the IAEA's organizational structure and activities by Mr. Tomoo Kaneko, Special Assistant to the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In particular, he introduced that the IAEA is promoting technical assistance and human resource education for low- and middle-income countries in a wide range of fields, including cancer treatment, zoonosis control, water resource management, climate change countermeasures, food problem countermeasures, plastic problems, and assistance for the promotion of women's nuclear research, which gave the participants new insights, Participants gained new insights and exchanged lively opinions on future collaboration.
Opening Remarks
Sachiko Nakagawa, Executive Director, Pharmaceutical Association of Japan
Ms. Nakagawa expressed her gratitude to Mr. Hikihara for his attendance and to the IAEA, the Vienna Delegation, and the International Nuclear Cooperation Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for their efforts in making the meeting possible.
As a member association of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations (IFPMA), the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Japan (PMAJ) contributes to international collaboration in the industry as a whole. The committee also promotes policy proposals on global issues and public-private partnerships through the Global Health Subcommittee of the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Japan. As a specific example, we submitted a policy proposal to the Japanese government on the occasion of the G20 Osaka Summit in 2019, which focuses on the promotion of universal health coverage, and we also support the Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT Fund) and the Drug Resistant Bacteria (AMR) Action Fund. He also mentioned his participation in public-private partnerships such as the Global Health Innovative Technology Fund (GHIT Fund) and the AMR Action Fund (AMR Action Fund).
He also noted the International Commission's efforts to promote dialogue with international organizations on the Corona Disaster, and expressed his respect for the leadership of the IAEA and the Japanese government and his gratitude for making the meeting possible.
Greetings
Mr. Takeshi Hikihara, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Permanent Representative of Japan to the International Organizations in Vienna
Mr. Hikihara began by stating that the IAEA is an international organization that plays a very important role in the realization of the SDGs, as its role is not only a "nuclear watchdog" but also covers an extremely wide range of fields, including medicine, health, food, agriculture, and the environment. He then introduced two examples of support from Japanese companies to the IAEA, one of which was a grant of about 500 million yen from Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited to the IAEA for a program to provide PCR testing equipment, etc. to about 130 countries in response to the current spread of new coronavirus infection, The IAEA has provided approximately 500 million yen to Takeda for this program, and Shimadzu Corporation has provided large precision mass spectrometers for the prevention of food contamination. Mr. Hikihara expressed his deep appreciation for the support from both companies, and IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi expressed his desire to strengthen cooperation with a wide range of partners, not only IAEA member governments but also private companies. He expressed his hope that the meeting will provide an opportunity for the development of cooperation between Japanese companies and the IAEA.
Greeting by Mr. Hikihara, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Overview of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and its activities in the health sector
Mr. Tomoo Kaneko, Special Assistant to the Director General, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Following Mr. Hikihara's speech, Mr. Kaneko, Special Assistant to the IAEA, gave the following introduction on the organization and activities of the IAEA.
The IAEA has 172 member countries and approximately 2,500 staff members. It is headquartered in Vienna, Austria, with regional offices in Toronto and Tokyo, Canada, and liaison offices in New York, USA, and Geneva, Switzerland. The IAEA is unique among other international organizations in that it operates its own laboratories (in Cybersdorf, just outside Vienna, and in Monaco), and its Director General, Mr. Grossi, is focusing on non-traditional partnerships with companies and international organizations with which the IAEA has not previously collaborated. The IAEA is also in discussions with IFPMA to strengthen its partnerships.
The IAEA contributes to the SDGs not only through inspections and nuclear power generation, but also through the use and application of nuclear technology. The following seven activities are specific examples.
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1.Fighting Women's Cancers
We have events at World Cancer Day in February 2021 and events against childhood cancer in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO). In addition, medical institutions in developing countries are not always equipped with advanced equipment and often use close proximity irradiation methods, so we provide training on radiation management for doctors and patients in radiotherapy.
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2.Preventing and Combatting Zoonotic Diseases
A network laboratory has been established between the IAEA and research institutes in IAEA member countries to collect and analyze data on animal-to-human transmission, including the movement of animals across national borders. These activities are being handled by the IAEA and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) through the establishment of a joint department within the IAEA Secretariat. This is one of the unique initiatives in which the IAEA and FAO work together to analyze the route of infection from animals to humans. We also distribute infection diagnosis kits to developing countries.
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3.Protecting & Managing Water Resources
Using isotope analysis technology, we are collecting information on the water cycle by analyzing and mapping the composition of water around the world. This allows us to apply this technology to research, for example, when a well is dug in a developing country, to determine whether the well will soon run dry (i.e., whether the well is a place where water is circulating).
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4.Addressing Climate Change
As many countries have set a goal of zero emissions of greenhouse gases, we are considering disseminating information about the role that nuclear power can play at international conferences such as COP26 (26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) in November 2021.
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5.Increasing Food Security & Improving Agricultural Development
We are working on using radiation technology and applying it to food and other products. For example, we are researching the use of radiation to sterilize the surface of fruits to prevent early spoilage, as well as the use of radiation to mutate seeds so that they can grow in environments where plants could not grow before, and we are transferring this technology to developing countries.
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6.Combating Plastic Pollution
The IAEA has been sampling seawater from around the world for many years, mainly at its Oceanographic Institute in Monaco, and has accumulated a great deal of data. Through these efforts, the IAEA is trying to contribute to solving the problem of plastics in the oceans. We are planning to conduct full-scale activities such as ocean monitoring through the use of radioactive signs, tracking the movement of microplastics and other substances, and collecting scientific data.
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7.Fellowships to Empower Women
Donor contributions have provided scholarships for about 100 students to study in master's programs (in nuclear-related fields) and other fields. The majority are from developing countries, but women from all over the world are eligible. The Japanese government also provides financial support.
Almost all of the financial resources for the above projects are special contributions, and new financial resources are needed to continue the activities. In the past, the presence of Japanese companies was not necessarily high within the IAEA, but with the financial support of Takeda Pharmaceutical Company of approximately 500 million yen in 2020 for PCR testing equipment, expectations for collaboration with Japanese private companies in the IAEA are increasing.
Explanation by Mr. Kaneko, Special Assistant to the Director General of the IAEA
Q&A
During the Q&A session, there was a lively exchange of views on the possibility of collaboration between the IAEA and pharmaceutical industry associations and companies, with Mr. Kaneko, Special Assistant to the IAEA Director General, stating that the IAEA would like to utilize radiation technology to contribute to the world in a wide range of fields including cancer, environment, and infectious diseases, but that funding is still not sufficient. He mentioned that the IAEA is not yet fully funded and is looking for opportunities to collaborate with and support partners, including the private sector.
In particular, with regard to "cancer," he noted that the number of patients is expected to continue to increase worldwide, and that global support activities are focused on radiotherapy, diagnostics, and radiopharmaceuticals. In response to a question from a participant from the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Japan, "Isn't there an affinity with the activities of pharmaceutical companies to support the improvement of access to cancer treatment in developing countries?" The Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Japan responded, "There is a great need and a large scope of possible cooperation.
In addition, opinions were exchanged on the possibility of cooperation in a wide range of fields, such as human resource development for handling radiation technology, research on the spread of zoonotic diseases, and environmental issues.
In response to the question, "Are there any opportunities for external dissemination of examples of cooperation with Japanese companies and industries?" Mr. Hikihara, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan, responded, "The IAEA Annual Meeting and its side events are considered good opportunities. The Japanese government would like to cooperate as much as possible on such occasions.
Q&A Session
Conclusion
In its "Pharmaceutical Association of Japan Industry Vision 2025," the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of Japan (PMAJ) has a vision to contribute to the improvement of healthcare and public health around the world by working together with governments, international organizations, and other stakeholders to solve global health issues by utilizing its technological capabilities and experience in new drug development.
I would like to once again express my gratitude to the IAEA and the Vienna Delegation for their cooperation in making this meeting possible. The International Committee of the Pharmaceutical Consortium of Japan (PPCJ) will continue its efforts to disseminate the activities of PPCJ and its member companies to the outside world, and will also consider specific cooperation with related organizations for policy advocacy, capacity building, and health system strengthening.
(International Committee, Global Health Subcommittee
Shingo Iino, Masako Okamoto, Fumiko Kiyonaga, Takanori Sato, Yosuke Sugiyama, Tsuyoshi Takahashi, Yoshitomo Tanaka, Osamu Chihara, Kyoko Nakano, Masahiro Mizobuchi )