[Pharm-policy] Asia Russell on WHA

[Thiru Balasubramaniam]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 17 May 2000 08:37:34 -0400 (EDT)
From: Asia Russell <asia@CritPath.Org>
Reply-To: healthgap@CritPath.Org
To: Multiple recipients of list <healthgap@CritPath.Org>
Subject: Update from the WHA


At no real surprise to activists at this weeks' world health assembly in
Geneva, The US delegation, led by Tom Novotny, is up to all its old
tricks-- mobilizing opposition in the face of even the slightest
positive movement by member states of the WHO.  

To wit:  Brazil and other delelgations, as per an earlier e mail from
HAI, have put forth several important amendments to the WHO HIV/AIDS
resolution. Brazil's amendment would be a first step towards giving poor
countries tools in order to gain access toaffordable AIDS medication: it
charges the WHO with constructing a database of drug prices, so
countries could easily determine the most accessible version of a
medicine.  

Many countries have expressed strong support for this amendment, because
they know a pricing database would give them a measure of leverage with
industry, among other things.

The US delegation is in opposition to this amendement.  They are against
countries havin access to pricing information, and I am sure the
pharmaceutical industry has communicated its anxiety about this 
amendment to Dr. Novotny.  They are afraid once data is widely
accessible that illustrates the dramatic differences in prices in
nations that have strong generic production, their murderous fiction
regarding the necessity of high prices will go up in smoke.  

Currently, the US is conducting an "informal meeting" to "reach
consensus"--read, to pressure countries hand selected by the US
delegation to capitulate to US opposition.  This process is completely
non-transparent, and completely preferential.  It is important for
activists in the US to know what our WHO representatives are doing at
this important international forum.  

A press release from ACT UP, MSF, and HAI regarding this should be
distributed by e mail shortly, as well as  the actual text of the
Brazilian amendment.  More information will follow after this "informal
meeting" ends.

Asia Russell

---------------------
Asia Russell
ACT UP Philadelphia
(215) 731-1844
(215) 731-1845 fax
asia@critpath.org
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