Posts tagged european union
In 2015, we are asking the EU to grant safe passage through Europe for generic medicines that are so critical to our work. http://ow.ly/G38a8
US and EU Derailing Ten-year Process to Create Health Research & Development Convention
The US and European Union delegations to the World Health Assembly are currently blocking efforts to move towards a binding convention on health R&D aimed at filling critical medical gaps for people in developing countries. MSF urged the US and European governments, who are leading the developed country effort, to stop obstructing a process that has been 10 years in the making and has broad support from developing countries.
MSF called on developing countries to continue efforts to progress towards a convention. Such a convention would require all governments to contribute financially to support R&D in key priority areas and would crucially separate—or de-link—the cost of R&D from the price of medical products, so that these are made affordable.
Photo:The new MenAfriVac vaccine.
2012 © MSF
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In days, a multi-billion dollar Swiss pharma company may get the Indian Supreme Court to shut down our supply of affordable medicines. Only we can stop this outrage.
PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION!
Novartis is suing [the Indian] government so it can squeeze more profits from the sick and needy. If Novartis wins, it will threaten Indian companies’ ability to produce low-cost medicines for malaria, AIDS, cancer and other life-threatening diseases, depriving millions around the world of the treatments they desperately need and threatening thousands of Indian jobs. But people power can push Novartis to drop the suit before the final ruling. Learn more.Photo: India 2007 © MSF
HELP AVAAZ GET TO 50,000 SIGNATURES!
In days, a multi-billion dollar Swiss pharma company may get the Indian Supreme Court to shut down our supply of affordable medicines. Only we can stop this outrage.
PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION!
Novartis is suing [the Indian] government so it can squeeze more profits from the sick and needy. If Novartis wins, it will threaten Indian companies’ ability to produce low-cost medicines for malaria, AIDS, cancer and other life-threatening diseases, depriving millions around the world of the treatments they desperately need and threatening thousands of Indian jobs. But people power can push Novartis to drop the suit before the final ruling. Learn more.
MSF took to the streets with 2,000 others in New Delhi warning that harmful provisions in a trade deal between the EU and India could severely hinder access to affordable medicine for people in developing countries.
For more information about the protest go here.
For more photographs from the demonstration go here.
Photo:India 2012 © Syddharth Singh
What the EU is trying to do with this trade agreement is effectively slowly poison the production of affordable generic medicines in India, which has helped keep so many people alive. This trade agreement could target us as treatment providers, simply for buying generic medicines from India to treat patients in our programs.
Piero Gandini
Head of Mission for MSF in India
India has been called the “pharmacy of the developing world” because it produces a large number of high-quality, affordable generic medicines. MSF and other treatment providers also rely on Indian generic medicines to treat other diseases and conditions.
However, a free trade agreement (FTA) currently under negotiation between the European Union (EU) and India could greatly restrict the ability of Indian generic manufacturers to continue producing high-quality, affordable medicines that millions of people with HIV/AIDS and other diseases and conditions rely on to stay alive.
To learn more about the protests and the issue at hand read this briefing on the situation.
For more information also check out MSF’s Access Campaign website.
In India, AIDS activists celebrate a victory. The European Union backed down on a key trade policy that would have made it more difficult for people in the developing world to get drugs for HIV/AIDS, TB, and other deadly diseases. But the fight continues. [Photo: 2011 © Rico Gustav]