[Ip-health] USCMA Resolution Supporting Access to Essential Medicines

Mon Nov 19 11:27:28 2007

forwarding the resolution below from the US Catholic Mission Association ( =
www.uscatholicmission.org ) annual conference. The resolution was raised by=
 Maryknoll ( www.maryknoll.org )

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USCMA Resolution Supporting Access to Essential Medicines

2007 Annual Meeting
Austin, Texas

Let it be resolved that:

USCMA members endorse the S. Res 241/H. Res 525 currently under
consideration in the U.S. Congress that calls for a new direction in U.S. t=
rade policy with respect to intellectual property rules that encourage both=
 access to essential medicines and the innovation of new medical technologi=
es to promote public health in developing countries.

Rationale:
We, USCMA members, many of whom are missioners who have worked with sick an=
d poor people in countries around the world, locate
intellectual property rights within the broader framework of Catholic Socia=
l Teaching based on the common good, and believe these rights should be bal=
anced with the needs of the poor.

Background:
The World Trade Organization's 1995 Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of I=
ntellectual Property (TRIPS) requires all member countries - including deve=
loping countries - to adopt U.S.-style patent and other intellectual proper=
ty rules for all products,
including pharmaceuticals. The 2001 Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement=
 and Public Health clarified that developing countries maintain substantial=
 "flexibilities" under TRIPS, and that TRIPS should be interpreted in a fas=
hion that supports the obligation to protect public health and promote acce=
ss to medicines.

The United States has systematically violated the trade commitments it made=
 in the Doha Declaration, undermining the ability of developing countries t=
o promote access to medicines amongst their poor populations. The majority =
of the world's people cannot afford to purchase brand-name
medicines; the introduction of much cheaper generics by using
the WTO TRIPS flexibilities will help save lives. At the same time, new app=
roaches to medical research and development are needed in order to spur inn=
ovation that will meet priority health needs.  Senate Resolution 241/ House=
 Resolution 525 aim to make the public health principles of innovation and =
access the governing feature of U.S. trade, not as a balancing act, but in =
ways that affirm and advance both goals.

Call for Action:

We urge Congress to pass this resolution, which will challenge the United S=
tates government's trade policy to:

1. Honor the commitments it made in the 2001 WTO Doha Declaration on the TR=
IPS Agreement and Public Health.

2. Refrain from punishing or threatening trade partners from using TRIPS fl=
exibilities to advance public health objectives.

3. Refrain from seeking intellectual property measures more
stringent than those provided for in TRIPS.

4. Support new global norms for promoting medical research and
development (R&D) that would address a needs-driven health agenda.

Additional Call for Specific Actions:

* As USCMA members, we are encouraged to use our resources of education, pr=
eaching and advocacy to urge our respective Senators and Representatives to=
 co-sponsor S. Res 241 or H. Res 525.

* Write a letter, call or meet with your Representative and/or Senators (or=
 their staff) and ask them to co-sponsor S. Res 241 / H. Res 525. Thank the=
m if they have already co-sponsored the resolution.