[Ip-health] Indian Minister of State for External Affairs broaches seizures of generics at ECOSOC

[Thiru Balasubramaniam]

http://www.keionline.org/blogs/2009/07/08/india-ecosoc-seizures/#more-2404


Indian Minister of State for External Affairs broaches seizures of
generics at ECOSOC
By thiru, on July 8th, 2009

Note: Only a portion of the speech is reproduced here.

High-Level Segment of the Economic and Social Council
Special Event on Africa and the Least Developed Countries:
Partnerships and Health
(1130 =96 1330 hrs, 8 July 2009, Geneva

Intervention by Hono=92ble Minister of State for External Affairs, Smt.
Preneet Kaur

Hon=92ble Co-Chairs/Madam Moderator, Distinguished Delegates,

     I would like to thank the Panelists for their excellent
presentations. Given that the adverse impact of the current economic
crisis on the realization of the Millennium Development Goals is
likely to affect the African countries and LDCs the most, this Special
Event is indeed befitting and timely.

     While capacity building and human resource development have been
at the core of India=92s cooperation with Africa over the past five
decades, a vibrant India and a resurgent Africa are witnessing an
intensification of relations and growing convergence of interests, in
our common quest for sustainable economic growth and development.

     Distinguished co-chairs/Madam Moderator,

     As you are undoubtedly aware, almost 95% of WHO esesntial drugs
are generic drugs. India is the largest producer and exporter of
generic drugs and over 60% of African generic drug imports come from
India. India has also been a reliable and cost-effective source of
healthcare products for civil society organisations like MSF and
procurement agencies like UNITAID.

     Regrettably, there have been recurring instances in the recent
past, where consignments of generic drugs manufactured by developing
countries and destined for other developing countries and LDCS, have
been seized in transit, at European ports. These drugs are neither
counterfeits nor substandard drugs, and are perfectly legitimate
generic drugs, in both the country of manufacture and the country of
destination. We are concerned that these recurring seizres are
creating a negative trend that impairs the access and availability of
affordable essential generic drugs in developing countries and LDCs,
and runs counter to the Doha Declaration on Public Health by creating
barriers to the legitimate trade of generic drugs. These seizures
contravene the concept of =91territoriality=92 enshrined in the TRIPS
Agreement. These widespread and repeated drug seizures not only have
an adverse systemic impact on South-South commerce and legitimate
trade in generics, but are also counter-productive to the goals of
universal access to medicines and improvement of public health
services in developing countries and LDCs in Africa and elsewhere. We
therefore call upon all countries to respect the concept of
=91territoriality=92 in the TRIPS Agreement and work collectively so as
not to hinder critically needed improvements in the realm of global
public health.

     In this context, India stands ready to cooperate with African
countries in strengthening their Drug Regulatory Authorities to
enhance access to safe and efficacious generic medicines. Keeping in
view the key role played by cost-effectiveness generic drugs in
managing public health in Africa, we also hope that while enacting new
Anti-Counterfeit legislations which are currently under considerations
in several African countries, care would be taken to ensure that the
availability of genuine, efficacious and affordable generic medicines
is not adversely affected.

     I would like to conclude, Distinguished co-chairs, by reiterating
India=92s commitment to continued cooperation and support to the
countries of Africa in countering the diverse challenges they face, in
achieving their development targets and in fulfilling the aspirations
of the people of Africa.

     Thank you

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Thiru Balasubramaniam
Geneva Representative
Knowledge Ecology International (KEI)
thiru@keionline.org


Tel: +41 22 791 6727
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