Indonesia has announced that foreign researchers are welcome to access its data on avian flu cases, in an effort to help restrict a potential pandemic. Scientists previously were unhappy with Indonesia's lack of co-operation with regards to this deadly disease which has killed 43 lives in that country alone. Indonesia attempts to clarify its stance by welcoming international scientists and research, for the wellbeing of all humanity.
The Indonesian Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari admitted in an interview with 'The Jakarta Post' that the country had earlier restricted access to the data and was conducting its research on its own end. However, he added that following a discussion with the Indonesian Academy of Sciences, the government decided to include other institutions, scientists and countries in this struggle....
There has been a decades long debate with respect to the control and ownership of material as regards to new viruses, diseases and treatments. While to be fair, the data should belong to that organization which sponsors the research, human interest requires that it be made available in the public sphere, unconditionally....
PS: Kudos to Siti Fadilah Supari for this breakthrough decision. For background, see my earlier posts on hoarding v. OA for avian flu data.
Posted by
Peter Suber at 8/04/2006 07:45:00 AM.
The open access movement:
Putting peer-reviewed scientific and scholarly literature
on the internet. Making it available free of charge and
free of most copyright and licensing restrictions.
Removing the barriers to serious research.
