July 27, 2024, 10:15 PM
July 27, 2024, 10:15 PM
The World Health Organization (WHO) launched the call for form the team of independent scientific collaborators who will carry out the critical examination of the coca leaf, in order to consider its situation within List 1 of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs of 1961, reported this Saturday the Secretary General of the Vice Presidency, Juan Carlos Alurralde.
This process takes place after The Government will formally request the UN, in June 2023a critical examination of the coca leaf. In March 2024, the WHO confirmed the completion of the study.
“We must highlight the important progress that is being made within the framework of people’s diplomacy, with the call officially launched by the WHO to join the team of independent scientific collaborators in one or more of the subject areas of pharmacology, toxicology, traditional therapeutic use and epidemiology within the framework of the critical examination of the coca leaf,” explained Alurralde.
In 1950, the Commission of Inquiry of the Economic and Social Council of the WTO classified the coca leaf in a way that ignored its nutritional and medicinal benefits, which led to its inclusion in List I of narcotics, intended for highly restrictive substances. “The critical examination of the coca leaf is an opportunity to correct that historical error from 1950 on the treatment of coca leaves in their natural state in international regulations,” explained Alurralde.
The national authority called on the entire Bolivian and world scientific community to submit their applications and contribute to this important process. “I invite academic researchers and independent scientists from the country and the international community to apply for this call, as well as experts who have specialized knowledge in natural and traditional medicine, “Taking into account that one of the criteria to be considered will be traditional therapeutic use. The deadline is August 14, 2024,” the Secretary General stressed.
The call for Terms of Reference (TORs) launched by the WHO seeks to bring together experts who will carry out a meticulous review of the existing literature on coca leaves and will contribute to the committee in drafting the report.
The findings of this working group will be essential for the preparation of a scientific report which will be considered by the WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence. This report will play a crucial role in the Reassessment of the coca leaf situation and will be referred to the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs.
