[Ip-health] MSF: Five Years After Doha, Drug Prices Are on the Rise

[Sheila.SHETTLE@geneva.msf.org]

Five Years After Doha, Drug Prices Are on the Rise=0D
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            Countries Must Make More Use of TRIPS Flexibilities=0D
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Geneva, 14 November 2006 =E2=80=93 Drug prices are on the rise five years a=
fter the=0D
historic signing of the Doha Declaration on TRIPS* and Public Health at the=
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2001 World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial meeting in Doha, Qatar, the=
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international medical humanitarian organisation M=C3=A9decins Sans Frontier=
=C3=A8s=0D
(MSF) stressed today.  Getting drug prices to decrease will require=0D
countries to make more extensive use of the TRIPS flexibilities enshrined=
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in the Doha Declaration, which sought to =E2=80=9C=E2=80=A6protect public h=
ealth and (=E2=80=A6)=0D
promote access to medicines for all.=E2=80=9D=0D
=0D
The case of AIDS illustrates the trend.  While fierce generic competition=
=0D
has helped prices for first-line AIDS drug regimen to fall by 99% from=0D
$10,000 to roughly $130 per patient per year since 2000, prices for=0D
second-line drugs =E2=80=93 which patients need as resistance develops natu=
rally =E2=80=93=0D
remain high due to increased patent barriers in key generics producing=0D
countries like India.=0D
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In a country such as South Africa, where MSF has been providing=0D
antiretroviral therapy for five years, treating 58 patients on second-line=
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drugs costs the same as treating over 550 patients on first-line.  In=0D
addition, newer HIV medicines that are recommended by WHO can cost up to 50=
=0D
times more, if they are even available in countries.  These drugs will be=
=0D
impossible to use unless generic competition drives down prices and helps=
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increase availability.=0D
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=E2=80=9CIn our projects, we feel the effect of higher drug prices on our b=
udget,=E2=80=9D=0D
said Dr. Tido von Schoen-Angerer, Director of MSF=E2=80=99s Campaign for Ac=
cess to=0D
Essential Medicines.  =E2=80=9CWe=E2=80=99re seeing many countries make use=
 of the Doha=0D
Declaration to import medicines, but what is the use if soon there are no=
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generics to buy? Countries where drug producers are based need to take=0D
steps to allow generic production and export of  new essential medicines.=
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If this doesn=E2=80=99t happen we=E2=80=99ll be back where we started in no=
 time because=0D
treatment will become unaffordable again.=E2=80=9D=0D
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The report released in April by the World Health Organization Commission on=
=0D
Intellectual Property, Innovation and Public Health concludes that,=0D
contrary to what its proponents often claim, intellectual property=0D
protection has not led to increased innovation and access to treatment for=
=0D
people in developing countries.=0D
=0D
=E2=80=9CTime has come to rethink the way new medicines are developed and p=
aid for.=0D
The current system based on patents and high prices to pay for innovation=
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leads to rationing and leaves huge health needs neglected=E2=80=9D said Ell=
en =E2=80=98t=0D
Hoen, Director of Policy & Advocacy at MSF=E2=80=99s Campaign for Access to=
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Essential Medicines. =E2=80=9CThe upcoming talks at the WHO on a action pla=
n and=0D
framework for essential health research and development in December offer=
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an opportunity to start this process.=E2=80=9D=0D
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* Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights=0D
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+++++++++++++++++++++=0D
Sheila Shettle=0D
Senior Communications Officer=0D
M=C3=A9decins Sans Fronti=C3=A8res=0D
Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines=0D
Rue de Lausanne 78=0D
1211 Geneva=0D
Switzerland=0D
+ 41.22.849.8403=0D
+ 41.79.293.0270 (m.)=0D
sheila.shettle@geneva.msf.org=0D
www.accessmed-msf.org=0D
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