[Ip-health] European Parliament's Press conference tomorrow 14th on the Novartis case against India

[Alexandra HEUMBER]

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FYI- below the official invitation from the Members of the European
Parliament for the press conference on the Novartis case against the
Indian Government, at the European Parliament in Strasbourg tomorrow
Wednesday 14th at 18h00.

Alexandra Heumber
EU Advocacy Liaison Officer
M=E9decins Sans Fronti=E8res
Access to Essential Medicines Campaign
Rue Dupr=E9, 94. 1090 Brussels
++32 (0) 2 474 75 09 (Dir off)
++ 32 (0) 479 514 900 (Mob)
++ 32 (0) 2 474 75 75 (Fax)


Kader ARIF           Pierre SCHAPIRA         Luisa MORGANTINI Johan VAN
HECKE
PSE INTA               PSE DEVE                 GUE/NGL   DEVE        ALDE
 DEVE
Caroline LUCAS
Greens/EFA INTA

with the participation of M=E9decins Sans Fronti=E8res

invite you to a press conference
Wednesday 14th February
at 6.00 pm
in the press room of the European Parliament in Strasbourg
The Novartis case against the Indian legislation
Protect the poor countries' right to affordable medicines

India, one of the biggest producers of generic versions of essential
medicines, is the main "pharmacy" of poor countries. These countries,
excluded from the market of patented medicines, too expensive for them,
need India to import generic versions of medicines at affordable prices.
What Novartis is attacking, is the Indian patent law adopted early 2005,
in accordance with the rules of the World Trade Organisation. This law
insures the right balance between protection by patents granted to really
innovating medicines and access to affordable generic versions of
medicines.
If Novartis wins the case, patients from poor countries would be denied
the access to vital treatments. In 2001, all member countries of the WTO
signed the Doha Declaration, according to which the TRIPS agreement "can
and should be interpreted and implemented in a manner supportive of WTO
members' right to protect public health and, in particular, to promote
access to medicines for all". This declaration therefore allows countries
to take positive measures in order to protect public health. It's in that
sense that India adopted in 2005 a national law which respects WTO rules
on intellectual property but which also contains a key health safeguard :
only new or really innovating medicines can be patented.
In the respect of the spirit of the Doha Declaration, signed by all WTO
members, it is indispensable to guarantee to poor countries an access to
medicines at affordable prices.