Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09USUNNEWYORK978
2009-11-02 21:28:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
USUN New York
Cable title:  

HHS SECRETARY SEBELIUS - SYG BAN CALL ON

Tags:  UNICEF WHO EAID SOCI UN 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6628
OO RUEHRN
DE RUCNDT #0978 3062128
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 022128Z NOV 09
FM USMISSION USUN NEW YORK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7496
RUEAUSA/HHS WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0167
RUEHIN/AIT TAIPEI IMMEDIATE 0070
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUEHRN/USMISSION UN ROME IMMEDIATE
UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000978 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

HHS FOR SECRETARY SEBELIUS, BGELLIN, JMONAHAN, NLURIE,
DANTOZZI, MMARINISEN, DMILLER;
STATE FOR D JSTEINBERG, USUN/W ERUGGLES, G/FO MOTERO; IO/FO
EBRIMMER, OES/FO KERRI-ANN;
NSC FOR SPOWER, GSMITH, CPRATT;
NSC/HSC FOR RHACHETT, HAVERY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNICEF WHO EAID SOCI UN
SUBJECT: HHS SECRETARY SEBELIUS - SYG BAN CALL ON
NEGOTIATING H1N1 VACCINE PRICING

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000978

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

HHS FOR SECRETARY SEBELIUS, BGELLIN, JMONAHAN, NLURIE,
DANTOZZI, MMARINISEN, DMILLER;
STATE FOR D JSTEINBERG, USUN/W ERUGGLES, G/FO MOTERO; IO/FO
EBRIMMER, OES/FO KERRI-ANN;
NSC FOR SPOWER, GSMITH, CPRATT;
NSC/HSC FOR RHACHETT, HAVERY

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: UNICEF WHO EAID SOCI UN
SUBJECT: HHS SECRETARY SEBELIUS - SYG BAN CALL ON
NEGOTIATING H1N1 VACCINE PRICING


1. (SBU) (Begin summary) U.S. Secretary of Health and Human
Services Kathleen Sebelius spoke via teleconference with
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the
Director-General of the World Health (WHO) Organization
Margaret Chan, the Executive Director of the UN Fund for
Children (UNICEF)Anne Veneman, and the UN Systems Influenza
Coordinator (UNSIC) David Nabarro on Saturday, October 31.
In response to Sebelius' request that the UN system work
expeditiously to secure tiered pricing for the U.S. and other
donors purchasing H1N1 vaccine for WHO, Ban said he fully
understood and supported the USG's desire to get "maximum
value for the dollar." Chan and Veneman said they would
immediately convene UNICEF and WHO technical-level working
groups to address this issue in partnership with the USG and
other donors. Chan requested that USG funds meant for H1N1
vaccine procurement be coursed through WHO to UNICEF at no
additional cost in order for pre-existing legal agreements
between WHO and recipient countries to cover liability
issues. (End summary.)


2. (SBU) Secretary Sebelius expressed USG gratitude to the
UN for WHO's leadership throughout the H1N1 crisis, and for
facilitating the USG's H1N1 donation. Sebelius also
reaffirmed USG commitment to donating 5 million finished
doses of H1N1 vaccine, purchased at full price, to meet WHO's
late November/early December start date for international
H1N1 vaccine provisions to 95 developing countries. Sebelius
stressed, however, that the USG would like to be able to
procure future tranches of vaccine at a reduced, tiered
price, and would like the UN system to lay down the necessary
infrastructure and negotiate with vaccine manufactures to
realize this goal swiftly.


3. (SBU) SYG Ban thanked the USG for its leadership on
H1N1 and said he understood USG "sensitivities around the
price paid for vaccine, and our need to get the maximum value
for our dollar." Chan said that she and Veneman were working
closely to pull together a WHO-UNICEF team in Geneva to move
expeditiously on this matter. Together, Chan said, they
would work hard to negotiate down the price, remarking that,
"the pharmaceutical companies will not be very happy with
us."


4. (SBU) In response to Chan's request for a point of
contact in the U.S. Government on this effort, Sebelius put
forward Counselor to the Secretary John Monahan as a
preliminary USG lead. Chan named her Advisor Ian Smith in
Geneva as WHO's point of contact moving forward. Veneman said
she would find an appropriate person from within UNICEF. All
agreed to arrange a technical-level conference call on
Monday, November 2.


5. (SBU) Veneman and Chan then emphasized that the USG
should course funds meant for vaccine procurement through WHO
to UNICEF for purchase so as to maintain existing liability
arrangements. Chan said WHO would not take any transaction
cost for handling the money. Sebelius said this sounded like
a feasible plan, but that she would have to vet it with her
legal team and respond on November 2.


6. (U) Please direct any follow-up questions related to the
cable to USUN/W Amar Bakshi (BakshiA@state.gov).
Rice