E-DRUG: Bangkok Declaration on compulsory licensing, innovation, and access to medicines for all.
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From November 21 to 23, 2007, 200 of experts, social
activists and patient network from all over the world
have gathered in Bangkok, Thailand, to discuss
compulsory licensing, innovation, and access to
medicines for all. This is our declaration.
1. We recognized and applauded Thailand's leadership
in the use of compulsory licensing to overcome legal
monopolies as well as decisions by Brazil and
Indonesia. Thailand's continued leadership on
compulsory licensing is important, but so too will be
the actions of other countries. Because of economies
of scale, it is important that the potential market in
developing countries for generic products is large
enough market to collectively justify entry by generic
suppliers.
2. To achieve our optimal goal on innovation and
access to medicines for all, we have created a new
global network on compulsory licensing, innovation and
access for all (I +a4a). This network will link
together patients, NGOs, academic / public health
experts, government officials, and generic drug
manufactures to find ways to ensure that patients have
access to medicines with acceptable quality.
3. We confirm that compulsory licensing of patents is
a legitimate, important and effective tool to protect
consumer and public interests. Thus every country
should have the rights to systematically and routinely
use compulsory licensing and other means under TRIPS
flexibility similarly to wealthy countries.
Governments all over the world use compulsory
licensing in a variety of contexts and in many
different fields. The right to use compulsory
licensing is incorporated in international law and
precedent, including WTOs TRIPS agreement and Doha
Declaration.
4. Objections to the use of compulsory licensing in
developing countries to ensure access to medicines for
all patients are often based upon untruthful,
misleading, unproven assertions and assumptions, and
are designed to appeal to prejudices regarding the
developing world. This should stop.
5. It is feasible to permit generic competition for
products, dramatically expanding access to medicines,
while ensuring sustainable sources of financing for
needs driven research. Because we can promote both
innovation and access, we must reject policies that
force choices between the two, and accept the
marginalization of low income and uninsured persons.
We applaud the May 2007 World Health Assembly
resolution WHA60.30 which calls upon the WHO to
consider new mechanisms that de-link R&D incentives
and financing systems from the prices of drugs. We
support the calls for a new global treaty on medical
R&D, that does not force countries to embrace
monopolies and high drug prices to financing medical
innovation, and which boosts investments in needs
driven essential R&D, including R&D needed to address
the special health problems of developing countries.
Our cause is important for everyone. We are seeking
global norms that ensure innovation and access for
all. This is an achievable goal, if we collaborate
and work together.
Bangkok, November 23, 2007
The International Conference on Compulsory Licensing:
Innovation and Access for All.
21-23 November 2007 Bangkok, Thailand
Organizers:
1.Health Consumer Protection Program (HCP), Chulalongkorn University
2.Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University
3.Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Ministry of Public Health
4.Health & Development Foundation (H&DF)
5.Drug Study Group (DSG)
6.AIDS Access Foundation
7.Thai Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (TNP+)
8.Social Pharmacy Research Unit, Chulalongkorn University
9.Pharmacy Network for Health Promotion (PNHP)
10.Foundation for Consumer (FFC)
Details about Compulsory Licensing
Kannikar KIJTIWATCHAKUL (Kar)
Mobile in Thailand +66 85 0708954
Mobile in Japan +81 90 9858 7432
kakablue@yahoo.com