[Ip-health] FW: India Treatment Access Campaign

[Asia Russell]

[Activists in India launch access campaign, starting with action on World
AIDS Day, demanding access to affordable drugs, in light up upcoming TRIPS
deadline for India--Asia Russell]

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From: Karyn Kaplan <karyn@iglhrc.org>
Reply-To: healthgap@CritPath.Org
Date: Tue, 27 Nov 2001 14:46:43 -0500 (EST)
To: Multiple recipients of list <healthgap@CritPath.Org>
Subject: India Treatment Access Campaign

>X-Originating-IP: [203.122.61.30]
>From: "Lesley A. Esteves" <deofilo@hotmail.com>
>
>Subject: Launch: AFFORDABLE MEDICINES AND TREATMENT CAMPAIGN
>Date: Tue, 27 Nov 2001 11:46:11 +0000 (GMT)
>
>Message from the Lawyer's Collective HIV/AIDS Unit:
>
>Prices of New Medicines in India are going to rise!
>
>YOU CAN PREVENT THIS..!!!!
>
>Dear All,
>
>Indian law will soon undergo change because India has signed the
>international agreement on Trade Related Intellectual Property
>(TRIPS). This change will have a huge impact on the Indian patent
>law, which protects the invention of new products. The =91process
>patent=92 system used in India so far will be replaced by a more
>restrictive =91product patent=92 system.
>
>The impact of this change on new medicines is unimaginable! Foreign
>pharmaceutical companies will have sole rights to determine the
>production, distribution, pricing and, therefore, availability of
>new medicines. It is feared that such a situation will raise the
>prices of new medicines to amounts that are unaffordable to most
>Indians.
>
>We wish to introduce you to a NATION WIDE CAMPAIGN ON AFFORDABLE
>MEDICINES AND TREATMENT for all. Many people in this country do not
>have access to medical treatment at present prices. The idea of
>prices of new medicines being several times more expensive is surely
>unthinkable.
>
>This is an issue that will have a grave and far-reaching impact on
>the right to life and health of all Indians and requires immediate
>action by the Indian Government. Since the Indian Government has not
>responded to this urgent issue, we as citizens of India who have to
>face the eventual impact of TRIPS should ACT NOW!
>
>This campaign plans to lay special emphasis on access to HIV/AIDS
>medicines for opportunistic infections (OIs) and Anti-Retroviral
>Therapy (ART). People with HIV/AIDS can prolong their lives with the
>help of these medicines, which are already very expensive (minimum
>Rs.1800 per month for ART). New medicines for the treatment of
>HIV/AIDS are going to be even more expensive. If we do not stand up
>against TRIPS now, many more lives will be lost to this epidemic.
>
>We must create public awareness and mobilisation. This issue
>concerns all of us and must be confronted by a mass and unified
>effort. NGOs, doctors and HIV positive peoples groups across the
>country have joined hands to launch this campaign. It will focus on
>the accessibility of affordable medicines for all as a fundamental
>human right that is enshrined in the Indian Constitution under the
>right to life and health.
>
>This campaign will be formally launched on World AIDS Day, December
>1, 2001. Groups and organisations in Delhi are planning a public
>meeting and candle light vigil demanding Affordable Medicines and
>Treatment for all. Please find attached an invitation for this
>program. We would be grateful if you could display the same at
>prominent places and also extend the invitation to as many people
>and groups as you can.
>
>In advancing this campaign we need to reach out to as many
>individuals and organisations as we can to create awareness on the
>issue. We invite you to participate in this joint initiative. It is
>very easy to join the campaign, all you have to do is write back to
>us on this address for further information.
>
>In order to create greater awareness on the campaign, a mission
>statement, a leaflet, a flyer and a signature campaign form have
>been prepared. these are being readied for dissemination. Please,
>find, however, the mission statement of the campaign attached.
>
>The following individuals and organisations, who have come together
>in initiating this campaign, welcome and anticipate your support:
>
>Delhi: Dr. Bitra George (Salaam Baalak Trust/Sharan), Shaleen Rakesh
>(Naz Foundation India), Delhi Network of Positive People (DNP+), Dr.
>V. J. Anand (Maulana Azad Medical College), Lawyers Collective
>HIV/AIDS Unit. Manipur: Manipur Network of People Living with
>HIV/AIDS, Care Foundation. Mumbai: Maharashtra Network of Positive
>People (MNP+), Swayam Siddha Sanghatana (SSS); Population Services
>International (PSI), Raghav Narsalay (Focus on Global South India),
>Dr. Nagesh Shirgoppikar (Forum Against Drugs), Tony Lewis (Salvation
>Army), Lawyers Collective HIV/AIDS Unit, Dr. Maninder Sethia, Denzil
>McDonald; James D.D. Pune: Network of Maharashtra for Positive
>People (NMP+) Goa: Positive People Goa. Hyderabad: Rahul Luther
>(Freedom Foundation). Bangalore: Ashok Rau (Freedom Foundation),
>Meera Levine (Alternative Law Forum), Karnataka Network of Positive
>People (KNP+); Sanghamitra Iyengar (Samrakasha). Chennai: Indian
>Network of Positive People (INP+); Dr. Tokugha Yepthomi(YRG Care),
>Chitra Narayan, Advocate. Trivandrum: Dr. Jaysree (Foundation for
>Integrated Research in Mental Health).
>
>Thank You,
>
>AFFORDABLE MEDICINES AND TREATMENT CAMPAIGN


____________________
Asia Russell
asia@critpath.org
ACT UP Philadelphia
Health GAP Coalition

+1 215 474-9329 tel
+1 215 985-4492 fax
+1 267 475-2645 cell