[Ip-health] Global Health Council event on Trade and Health

[Ellen Shaffer]

--
[ Picked text/plain from multipart/alternative ]
Please note the comments of the Commission on Intellectual Property Rights,
Innovation and Public Health (CIPIH) on this issue, which is largely a
smokescreen by the pharmaceutical industry:

 Tariffs and taxes on essential health care are under the direct control of
governments =AD
it is important that they also contribute to public health objectives. A
recent study,
undertaken on behalf of the Commission, examined data on the tariff rates
levied and
revenue generated by over 150 countries on pharmaceutical products (51). Th=
e
analysis shows that most countries for which data are available do not levy
duties on
pharmaceutical products. Furthermore, 90% of countries apply tariff rates o=
f
less than
10% on medicines. Pharmaceutical tariffs generate less than 0.1% of gross
domestic
product in 92% of countries for which data are available. According to the
study,
factors other than tariffs =AD such as manufacturer's prices, sales taxes
including valueadded
tax, mark-ups and other charges =AD are likely to have a greater impact on =
the
price of medicines than tariffs. Thus, in the majority of developing
countries the
extent to which pharmaceutical tariffs are a barrier to access should not b=
e
overestimated. However, the removal of tariffs will not help patients if th=
e
benefits of
any reductions are absorbed in the supply and distribution chain, for
instance by
patent owners or importers.

4.12 Governments should remove any tariffs and taxes on health-care
products, where appropriate, in the context of policies to enhance access t=
o
medicines. They should also monitor carefully the supply and distribution
chain
to minimize costs that could adversely influence the prices of medicines.

http://www.who.int/intellectualproperty/en/

- Ellen Shaffer





On 10/15/07, Sarah Rimmington <srimmington@essentialinformation.org> wrote:
>
> This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
> --
> Please mark your calendars for the Global Health Council policy forum
> tradeand health on October 30, from 2-3:30pm in DC at the offices of the
> Council.
>
> A draft of the event announcement is attached and below.
>
> Hope to see you there.
>
> Michele Forzley, JD, MPH
> Global Public Health Lawyer & Consultant Visiting Distinguished Professor
> Widener School of Law Health Law Institute Industrial Trade Advisory 15
> Committee Member on behalf of the Global Health Council 301-565-0680
>
> 301-565-0680
> mforzley@comcast.net
>
> ---------------
> Access to Life Saving Medicines for the World's Poorest:
> Tariff and Non-Tariff Barriers
>
> Oct. 30, 2007
> 2 - 3:30 pm
> Global Health Council
> 1111 19th Street, NW
> Suite 1120
> Washington, D.C.
>
>
> Despite an enormous global supply of pharmaceuticals, regular access to
> medicines has not been realized in much of the world. Drugs are widely
> available in only 28 percent of countries, with many factors =96 includin=
g
> pharmaceutical costs =96 affecting access. Most developing countries are =
net
> importers of pharmaceutical products and many impose tariffs and non-tari=
ff
> barriers (NTBs) on finished drugs, active pharmaceutical ingredients (API=
s),
> and excipients (inactive substances that contain the active ingredients).
> Tariffs and NTBs contribute to pharmaceutical costs by increasing the fin=
al
> price of essential drugs, limiting access for the poorest people.
>
> Please join us for this forum to explore the potential benefits to
> minimizing tariffs and ensuring that trade measures are not barriers to d=
rug
> access and opportunities for collaboration between the public health, tra=
de
> and advocacy communities to align trade and health policy goals.
>
> Speakers:
> Michele Forzley, JD, MPH, Global Public Health Lawyer, Visiting
> Distinguished Professor, Widener School of Law Health Law Institute
> Butch Staley, Procurement Unit Manager, Partnership for Supply Chain
> Management
>
> Moderator:
> Smita Baruah, Senior Policy Associate, Global Health Council
>
> If you plan to attend, please respond to rsvp@globalhealth.org
>
>
>
>
> --
> Sarah Rimmington
> Attorney
> Essential Action, Access to Medicines Project
> Washington, DC
> Tel: (202) 387-8030
> Cell: (202) 422-2687
> www.essentialaction.org/access/
>
> --
> [ Access to Life Saving Medicines for the World.doc of type
> application/msword deleted ]
> _______________________________________________
> Ip-health mailing list
> Ip-health@lists.essential.org
> http://lists.essential.org/mailman/listinfo/ip-health
>



--
Ellen R. Shaffer, PhD MPH
Co-Director, CPATH
Phone 415-933-6204
www.cpath.org
cell: 415-680-4603