[Ip-health] RE: Ip-health digest, Vol 1 #2697 - 6 msgs

[KangAra]

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[ Picked text/plain from multipart/alternative ]


Calling for the Global Action Week Against Roche!

Korean patients and activists are calling for "The Global Action Week Again=
st Roche 1st-7th October 2008=A1=B0 to urge Roche to stop abuse their power=
 and threaten HIV patients, starting with October 1st, the anniversary day =
of establishment of Roche.

Background
Fuzeon is an essential drug for HIV-positive people who have tried other an=
ti-HIV drugs in the past and are unable to keep their viral loads undetecta=
ble using drugs that are currently available. Korea Ministry for Health, We=
lfare and Family Affairs listed Fuzeon on the price of $18,000 a year in 20=
04. However the Swiss drug giant Roche claimed $ 22,000 and has withheld th=
e supply of this life saving drug in South Korea.

A marketing director of Roche Korea said in the news interview that Roche h=
as not supplied Fuzeon to developing countries including South Korea becaus=
e they have no ability to pay for the drug. That is to say, Fuzeon will not=
 be supplied for the countries who do not have enough money to pay for. In =
the meeting, Mr. Urs said 'we do not business for saving lives, but for mak=
ing money. Saving lives is none of our business'.

Roche argues that the demand for $22,000 is never excessive one because Sou=
th Korea has the National Healthcare Insurance System and is classified int=
o high-income country by World Bank. However, it should be noted that natio=
nal healthcare system is currently under threat from multinational drug com=
panies. Aggressive drug pricing policy by pharmaceutical companies is threa=
tening not only developing countries but developed countries.

Most developed countries have national healthcare system, but now it is shr=
inking from the multinational drug companies and FTAs. For instance, Korea-=
U.S. FTA makes it very difficult to issue 'compulsory licensing' which enab=
les people to control drugs and undermines people's access to medicine by i=
ntroducing various measures to strengthen patent and intellectual property =
protections on medicine. In this way, the national healthcare system even i=
n the developed countries is rapidly changing and the burden of expensive m=
edicine price now affects the people.

Big pharmaceutical companies often argue that the problem of 'access to med=
icine' can be solved by charity and mercy to developing countries. However,=
 the exact point is not 'access to medicine for poor' but 'access to medici=
ne for all'. In addition, it should be emphasized that people's struggle to=
 access the 3rd line therapy is also very important. Because we believe tha=
t any patient has a right to access the most suitable and affordable medici=
ne for oneself.

We believe that our struggle is your struggle and can be extended to the ca=
mpaign against the aggressive drug pricing policy of big pharmaceutical com=
panies and drug monopoly across the world.

What you can do

Therefore we are calling upon people to take action around the world.

First, we are inviting you to sign-on the letter to urge Roche to desist fr=
om jeopardizing the lives of HIV patients. If you would like to sign on, pl=
ease send your organization's name or your name and city/state where you li=
ve or work to <naengee@hotmail.com>. The deadline for sign-on is September =
29, 2008.(the deadline has been extended)

Second, we are calling for organizing every possible form of protest such a=
s picketing, press conference and demonstration from October 1st to 7th. Pl=
ease be sure to send any information to <naengee@hotmail.com> so as to shar=
e news about your plans.

In solidarity


Ara KangDirector of the Korean Pharmacists for Democratic Society3F, 26-1, =
Ewha-Dong, Chongro-Gu,Seoul, South KoreaWebsite : http://www.pharmacist.or.=
krE-mail : naengee@hotmail.comTel : 82-11-389-0614Fax : 82-2-766-6025> Date=
: Fri, 12 Sep 2008 12:00:11 -0400> From: ip-health-request@lists.essential.=
org> Subject: Ip-health digest, Vol 1 #2697 - 6 msgs> To: ip-health@lists.e=
ssential.org> > Send Ip-health mailing list submissions to> ip-health@lists=
.essential.org> > To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit=
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more specific> than "Re: Contents of Ip-health digest..."> > > Today's Topi=
cs:> > 1. Invitation MSF Worskhop at WTO Sept 25th - Five years from the De=
cision to> the action> =3D?UTF-8?B?4oCTIGlzIHRoZSAyMDAzIEF1Z3VzdCAzMCBEZWNp=
c2lvbiDigJx0aGU=3D?=3D> =3D?UTF-8?B?IGV4cGVkaXRpb3VzIHNvbHV0aW9u4oCdIGZvciB=
hY2Nlc3MgdG8=3D?=3D> =3D?UTF-8?B?IG1lZGljaW5lcyB3ZSBuZWVkPw=3D=3D?=3D (Alex=
andra HEUMBER)> 2. The Kenya Anti-Counterfeit Bill, 2008 - a threat to Acce=
ss to Essential Medicines (Christa Cepuch)> > --__--__--> > Message: 1> To:=
 ip-health@lists.essential.org, e-drug@healthnet.org> From: Alexandra HEUMB=
ER <Alexandra.HEUMBER@brussels.msf.org>> Date: Thu, 11 Sep 2008 17:47:13 +0=
200> Subject: [Ip-health] Invitation MSF Worskhop at WTO Sept 25th - Five y=
ears from the Decision to> the action> =3D?UTF-8?B?4oCTIGlzIHRoZSAyMDAzIEF1=
Z3VzdCAzMCBEZWNpc2lvbiDigJx0aGU=3D?=3D> =3D?UTF-8?B?IGV4cGVkaXRpb3VzIHNvbHV=
0aW9u4oCdIGZvciBhY2Nlc3MgdG8=3D?=3D> =3D?UTF-8?B?IG1lZGljaW5lcyB3ZSBuZWVkPw=
=3D=3D?=3D> > This is a multipart message in MIME format.> --> [ Picked tex=
t/plain from multipart/alternative ]> INVITATION=3D0D> =3D0D> M=3DC3=3DA9de=
cins Sans Fronti=3DC3=3DA8res workshop at the WTO Public Forum=3D0D> Geneva=
, Switzerland=3D0D> =3D0D> =3D0D> Five years from the Decision to the actio=
n =3DE2=3D80=3D93 is the 2003 August 30=3D> =3D0D> Decision=3D0D> =3DE2=3D8=
0=3D9Cthe expeditious solution=3DE2=3D80=3D9D for access to medicines we ne=
ed?=3D> =3D0D> =3D0D> Thursday 25 September 2008, 11:15 - 13:15=3D0D> WTO b=
uilding, Room A=3D0D> =3D0D> =3D0D> Access to medicines for developing coun=
tries continues to be a struggle.=3D0D> The price increase of newer medicin=
es for example second- line=3D0D> antiretroviral drugs, shows how the acces=
s crisis far from being resolved,=3D> =3D0D> is still firmly with us.=3D0D>=
 How does compulsory licensing play a role in today=3DE2=3D80=3D99s procure=
ment o=3D> f=3D0D> essential medicines ? Is the =3DE2=3D80=3D9CAugust 30 De=
cision=3DE2=3D80=3D9D the =3DE2=3D> =3D80=3D9Cexpeditious=3D0D> solution=3D=
E2=3D80=3D9D it promised to be?=3D0D> =3D0D> Key actors that have experienc=
e using compulsory licensing to increase=3D0D> access to medicines will pre=
sent on their experiences, and the=3D0D> presentations will be followed by =
a discussion.=3D0D> =3D0D> Introduction by Ellen =3DE2=3D80=3D98t Hoen, Dir=
ector Policy & Advocacy, MSF Acce=3D> ss to=3D0D> Essential Medicines Campa=
ign=3D0D> =3D0D> Moderator: Sisule F. Musungu, President, IQsensato,=3D0D> =
=3D0D> Panel of speakers:=3D0D> Rachel Kiddel-Monroe, Chair of the Board, U=
niversities Allied for=3D0D> Essential Medicines, Former MSF Access to Esse=
ntial Medicines Campaign=3D0D> Canada Coordinator=3D0D> Sunjay Sudhir, Coun=
sellor, Permanent Mission of India to WTO Geneva=3D0D> Inthira Yamabhai, Re=
searcher, Health Intervention and Technology=3D0D> Assessment Program, Bure=
au of Policy and Strategy-MOPH, Thailand=3D0D> Jorge Bermudez, Executive-Se=
cretary, UNITAID=3D0D> =3D0D> =3D0D> Panel of respondents:=3D0D> Roger Kamp=
f, Counsellor, Intellectual Property Division, WTO=3D0D> Gianluca Susta, Me=
mber of the European Parliament=3D0D> Greg Perry, Director General, Europea=
n Generic Medicines Association=3D0D> =3D0D> Discussion: Questions open to =
the floor=3D0D> =3D0D> =3D0D> Please send an email to Ms Mai Do at Mdo@msf.=
org to confirm your=3D0D> participation, and register at=3D0D> https://meet=
ings.wto.org/Forums/Registrant/SymposiumRegistration.aspx?Langu=3D> age=3D3=
DE=3D0D> =3D0D> before 15 September 2008.=3D0D> =3D0D> ____________________=
________________=3D0D> Alexandra Heumber=3D0D> EU Advocacy Liaison Officer=
=3D0D> =3D0D> M=3DC3=3DA9decins Sans Fronti=3DC3=3DA8res=3D0D> Access to Es=
sential Medicines Campaign=3D0D> =3D0D> Rue Dupr=3DC3=3DA9, 94. 1090 Brusse=
ls=3D0D> ++32 (0) 2 474 75 09 (Dir off)=3D0D> ++ 32 (0) 479 514 900 (Mob)=
=3D0D> ++ 32 (0) 2 474 75 75 (Fax)=3D0D> =3D0D> > --__--__--> > Message: 2>=
 Date: Fri, 12 Sep 2008 09:32:54 +0300> From: "Christa Cepuch" <christa@hai=
africa.org>> To: ip-health@lists.essential.org, afro-nets@healthnet.org> Su=
bject: [Ip-health] The Kenya Anti-Counterfeit Bill, 2008 - a threat to Acce=
ss to Essential Medicines> > --> [ Picked text/plain from multipart/alterna=
tive ]> [Health Action International (HAI) Africa and the Kenya Treatment A=
ccess> Movement (KETAM) have recently hosted two briefing sessions on the h=
ow the> Anti-Counterfeit Bill will affect access to medicines in Kenya if i=
t is> passed in its current draft form. The first briefing targeted the loc=
al and> international media fraternity, while the second briefing brought t=
ogether> members of parliament, government officials from the health and tr=
ade> ministries, civil society organizations, the national consumer's right=
s> group, and other local stakeholders. Given the ongoing debate surroundin=
g> the ACTA negotiations, there has also been significant international> in=
terest in the outcomes of the draft Kenyan Bill.]> > Kenya has recently inc=
reased its efforts to crack down on substandard goods> entering the local m=
arket. Last year, Kenya's first-ever Anti-Counterfeit> Bill was published b=
ut lapsed in Parliament. The Bill was republished on 01> July 2008 as the "=
Anti-Counterfeit Bill, 2008" (see> www.tradeandindustry.go.ke/documents/Ant=
i-Counterfeit_Bill_2008.pdf ).> > While this Bill has some important strate=
gies to combat the general> availability of counterfeit goods in Kenya, it =
contains various ambiguities> which, if misinterpreted or abused, will be d=
etrimental to the government's> ongoing effort to ensure access to medicine=
s for all Kenyans.> > The general areas of concern in the draft Bill includ=
e the following:> * The Bill does not distinguish medicines from other good=
s. Medicines are> essential and lifesaving and should be distinguished from=
 non-essential> goods such as DVDs, batteries, pens, etc.> * The area of in=
tellectual property rights (IPRs) (including patents,> trademarks, copyrigh=
t, and data protection) is clearly distinct from> quality control issues wh=
en related to medicines. The Bill in its current> form confuses these issue=
s to such an extent that "interested parties" may> take advantage and misin=
terpret generic medicines as counterfeits.> * The Bill contravenes some sec=
tions of existing legislation, most notably> the Industrial Property Act, 2=
001 (the IP Act), including sections 54(2) on> early working exception, 58(=
2) providing for parallel importation, and 80 on> government use. These sec=
tions have played an important role in the struggle> to increase access to =
essential medicines in Kenya.> * Many proposed provisions within the Bill a=
re "TRIPS-plus" in the sense> that they go beyond the commitments required =
under the World Trade> Organization (WTO) Agreement on Trade-related Aspect=
s of IPRs (TRIPS).> TRIPS-plus measures in national laws are known to hinde=
r access to essential> medicines.> * The Bill gives excessive power to the =
Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) to> address counterfeits and does not seek to=
 strengthen the national medicines> regulatory authority (the Pharmacy and =
Poisons Board or PPB) to fulfill its> mandate of fighting counterfeit medic=
ines in Kenya.> > To address the Bill's weaknesses and overall threat to ac=
cess to medicines> for Kenyans, the following actions are recommended:> * M=
Ps must amend the Anti-Counterfeit Bill, 2008 to protect the public> intere=
st in health. ('Counterfeiting' and 'counterfeit goods' must be> re-defined=
 and the WHO definition of counterfeit medicines> (http://www.who.int/medic=
ines/services/counterfeit/overview/en/) must be> included to distinguish me=
dicines from non-essential goods. The current> text granting excessive / ir=
relevant power to the Kenya Revenue Authority> must be amended. The Anti-Co=
unterfeit Bill must be harmonized with the IP> Act, 2001.)> * The PPB must =
be acknowledged and supported in fulfilling its mandate to> fight counterfe=
it medicines.> > HAI Africa and its network partners in Kenya will continue=
 to advocate that> public health takes precedence over commercial interests=
 in the development> and implementation of national legislation and relevan=
t policy. More> information on HAI Africa's activities on Kenya's Anti-Coun=
terfeit Bill,> 2008 may be obtained from info@haiafrica.org> > --> Health A=
ction International (HAI) Africa> mailto: info@haiafrica.org> Website: http=
://www.haiafrica.org> -----------------------------------------------------=
-------------------------> Health Action International (HAI) Africa is a gr=
owing regional network of> Civil Society Organisations, Non-Governmental Or=
ganisations, healthcare> providers, academics and individuals in sub-Sahara=
n Africa who are focussed> on promoting policies and practices that increas=
e people's access to quality> essential medicines that are correctly prescr=
ibed and appropriately used.> HAI Africa has contacts in 30 African countri=
es and is part of the global> HAI network.> > > --__--__--> > _____________=
__________________________________> Ip-health mailing list> Ip-health@lists=
.essential.org> http://lists.essential.org/mailman/listinfo/ip-health> > > =
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