Vacancy: Human rights/global health researcher
The Pharmaceutical Accountability Foundation is looking for a motivated part-time researcher to develop the methodology for a Fair Pharma Cancer Scorecard. The Pharmaceutical Accountability Foundation is a non-governmental, not-for-profit organization that is committed to improving access to medicines on a global scale.
Responsibilities of the position are as follows:
- Conduct research on international human rights standards relevant to access to medicines and pharmaceutical accountability.
- Develop a strong human rights-based methodology for the Fair Pharma Cancer Scorecard.
- Coordinate with other consultants working on the Scorecard, including a human rights lawyer and a data analyst.
- Support the publication of the methodology in a peer-reviewed journal.
Qualifications/Person Specifications
The position holder should have the following: (E = Essential; D = Desirable)
- Background in international (human rights) law, global health, public health, or related discipline (E)
- 1-2 years of research experience, preferably with a strong background in research methodology (E)
- Interest in global health, access to medicines, human rights
- In-depth understanding of international standards related to access to medicines (E)
- Proficient in academic writing (E)
- Proficient in data processing, analysis and writing of manuscripts and reports (D)
- Track record of publications in health and/or legal related field (E)
- Attention to details (D)
- An analytical mind with problem-solving skills (D)
- Excellent organizational and multi-tasking abilities (D)
- A good team player with leadership skills (E)
We encourage you to apply even if you do not meet all of the criteria listed above.
Duration
The contract will be for a period of 6 months and renewable subject to the availability of funds. Expected starting date: 15 January, 2024.
Mode of Application
Interested persons should send their application package via email to voorzitter@farmaterverantwoording.nl. Please include:
- CV
- A cover letter
Closing Date: 10th January, 2024.
Who we are: The Pharmaceutical Accountability Foundation
The Fair Pharma Scorecard is a project of the Pharmaceutical Accountability Foundation (PAF) (in Dutch: Farma ter Verantwoording). PAF is a Dutch-based non-profit organisation that takes action against unreasonably priced medicines. PAF investigates cases of pharmaceutical company abuse of market exclusivity rights to keep prices high at the expense of public health, and then works to inform the public, or takes legal action if necessary.
PAF was founded in July 2018 in response to the abuse of a dominant market position by the company Leadiant to raise the price of a treatment for a rare genetic disease over 500 times. Leadiant was fined €19.5 million by the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) on 19 July 2021, and other successful judgements in other countries have followed.
What do we mean by “Fair Pharma?”
Pharmaceutical companies produce essential medicines. Governments offer them exclusive rights to incentivise the development of medicines, as medical innovation is in the public interest. In return, pharmaceutical companies have a duty to protect this public interest, and not to use market exclusivity to drive up prices to unsustainable levels or to prevent follow-on innovation. The degree to which they respect this duty of care is the degree to which we consider them to meet ‘fair pharma’ principles.
The Fair Pharma Scorecard ranks 26 pharmaceutical companies based on their compliance with 19 human rights principles. It shows how they performed when it comes to human rights commitments, transparency, international cooperation, and equality, non-discrimination and equity during the Covid-19 pandemic.
PAF is now planning to undertake a similar study on access to the 30 most important cancer medicines in the Netherlands and selected LMICs, documented in a Fair Pharma Cancer Scorecard.
Please see here for the 2022 scorecard edition: https://fairpharmascorecard.org/the-fairpharma-scorecard-2022/
Please see here for our website: https://www.pharmaceuticalaccountability.org/about/