Access to Medicines

Following the European Commission consultation on Information to Patients, earlier this year patient groups have come out divided on the need and the solution to the reform of EU rules on patient information. The European Commission’s proposals would allow the pharmaceutical industry to potentially provide information on prescription drugs over the internet, television, the press, radio and brochures.
The consultation, and expected legislative proposal, is very contraversial and many (...)

Negotiations for a new approach to improving access to essential medicines suspended as consensus proves illusive.

The high court in Madras has rejected the Novartis challenge to Indian Patent laws. Campaigners for access to essential medicines have welcomed the courts ruling, having feared that any other judgement would have jeopardised the large scale generic drug manufacturing industry in India.
The company had claimed that Indian patent law did not comply with the country’s Constitution following the rejection of their patent application for a cancer drug "Glevic".
The full text of the judgement (...)

The European Parliament is insisting that the Council and the Commission do more to ensure access to essential medicines in developing countries. The Parliament has refused to ratify the WTO protocol on intellectual property rights until it has guarantees from the Council and the Commission that they will fully support access to essential medicines.
On 17 July 2007 MEPs stepped up a campaign to make cheap medicines available to the world’s poorest countries by delaying an international (...)

*UPDATED with latest developments in the Novartis case and mobilisation at EU level.*
The international humanitarian NGO Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) urges the European Union institutions to support the Indian government in a legal fight against a pharmaceutical company over patented medicines. MSF calls for support for its petition to help protect access to affordable medicines, and urges the Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis to drop its case against the Indian Government.
The (...)

ActionAid Interntational recruits a project assistant to work for the European Network for Global health, in which EPHA takes part.
With partners in Italy, Germany, France, Brussels, UK and Spain, the European Network for Global Health is a large and exciting new project which can make a real difference to the lives of people in developing countries.
ActionAid International is seeking a Project Assistant to work in close proximity with the Project Manager and the Finance & Monitoring (...)

The Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) Access to Essential Medicines campaign have created a 4-page Fact Sheet on Children and HIV/AIDS.
The publication urges players in HIV/AIDS treatment field to better facilitate access for children to antiretroviral therapy.
MSF makes a number of recommendations, specifically:
WHO and UNICEF should develop a clear strategy to ensure that greater numbers of children receive antiretrovirals;
Pharmaceutical companies should facilitate access for children to (...)

EPHA attended Médecins Sans Frontières debriefing session on the outcomes of May’s World Health Asembly (WHA). The session focussed on the WHA’s resolution on essential health research and intellectual property rights (IPRs) - see the attached report on WHA Towards a Global Strategy. It was also an opportunity to discuss the key issues and opportunities raised by the newly created intergovernmental working group.
Background Information by MSF The Commission on Intellectual Property and (...)

This article describes the current status of the new intergovernmental working group on public health and intellectual property, as well as the history behind its establishment.
Setting up an intergovernmental working group
An intergovernmental working group on public health and intellectual property, which the World Health Assembly said in May should be set up “immediately”, is scheduled to meet for the first time in December in Geneva.
According to Intellectual Property Watch, (...)

*UPDATED with the results of the World Health Assembly, May 2006.* World Intellectual Property Day, held on 26 April, was marked by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) urging governments not to ignore the conclusions of World Health Organisation commissioned report on intellectual property and public health.
The Report of the Commission on Intellectual Property, Innovation and Public Health(CIPIH) entitled "Public health: innovation and intellectual property rights" was published earlier in (...)