PACHA June 7 session on parallel imports and compulsory licensing

[James Love <love@cptech.org>]

I just received a letter from Dr. Scott Hitt, the Chair of the
President's Advisory Commission on HIV/AIDS (PACHA), inviting me to make
a 7 to 10 minute presentation to an "informational session" of the
International Subcommittee of PACHA, on June 7, at 4 pm, at the Radisson
Barcelo Hotel (2121 P Street).  The International Subcommittee is
chaired by Robert Fogel.

The title of the session is "Perspectives on Parallel Importing and
Compulsory Licensing."  This is important, because there had been much
resistance to have the session focus directly on these trade/IPR
disputes.  I do not know who the other presenters will be. 

I had heard that PACHA had invited Tom Bombelles from PhRMA and Joe
Papovich from USTR, both hard line supporters of the PhRMA positions. 
(http://www.ustr.gov/people/AUSTR/papovich.html)  Someone else had
mentioned that Glaxo might be asked to make a presentation.  I'm not
sure who else will be there.  The Health Gap had asked that Eric Sawyer
also be permited to address the International Subcommittee.  

As far as I know, this is the first time the Clinton/Gore administration
has officially make these IPR/Trade/Health issues part of a public
debate (PACHA being a government body), and much thanks goes to Bob
Fogel for making this happen.    

   Jamie Love <love@cptech.org>

-- 
James Love, Director, Consumer Project on Technology
I can be reached at love@cptech.org, by telephone 202.387.8030,
by fax at 202.234.5176. CPT web page is http://www.cptech.org