[Pharm-policy] South Africa report on US parallel import legislation

[James Love]

This is how the US parallel import legislation plays in the South
African press.

Jamie

http://www.news24.co.za/News24/Health/Health_News/0,1113,2-14-660_924139,00.html
                
   10/10/2000 14:55 - (SA)



US to import cheap drugs

Pierre Steyn

Washington - As a direct result of the high cost of medicines, the
United States Congress is likely to approve legislation to import drugs
from foreign countries - an issue over which, until recently, it has
slated South Africa.

Five years ago, when former health minister Dr Nkosazana Zuma proposed
legislation to implement the so-called parallel importation of drugs,
the Clinton administration, spurred on by the American pharmaceutical
industry, protested vehemently.

South Africa was placed on a watch list following Zuma's proposals,
which the pharmaceutical industry said, purportedly infringed on US
patent rights.

These tensions between South African and the US were only allayed
earlier this year when President Bill Clinton signed an executive order
making it possible for poor countries to manufacture or import cheaper
generic drugs.

And now it appears the US congress, despite strong opposition from the
pharmaceutical industry in that country, is prepared to follow South
Africa's example by importing cheaper drugs.

    [snip]


-- 
James Love  mailto:love@cptech.org http://www.cptech.org
Consumer Project on Technology, P.O. Box 19367, Washington, DC 20036
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