E-drug: HOPE for Africa bill introduced
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Jesse Jackson, Jr. today introduced the HOPE for Africa bill (with
number HR 772). The bill includes the provision mentioned earlier on
this list, blocking the U.S. government from challenging African
country intellectual property policies designed to promote access to
drugs, so long as those provisions comply with the WTO TRIPs.
Here is an excerpt from Jackson's statement today in announcing the
bill:
Third, H.R. 772 addresses the AIDS crisis by replenishing and
targeting assistance from the Development Fund for Africa for AIDS
education and treatment programs; making it U.S. policy to assist
Sub-Saharan African countries in efforts to make needed
pharmaceuticals and medical technologies widely available; and
prohibiting the use of U.S. funds to undermine African intellectual
property and competition policies that are designed to increase the
availability of medications. Since the beginning of the AIDS epidemic,
83 percent of AIDS deaths have occurred in Sub-Saharan Africa.
U.S. citizens who would like to support the bill should act fast -- the
fate of African trade legislation in the House of Representatives may
be decided in the coming two weeks. The key message is to call
members of the House and urge them to support HR 772, the HOPE
for Africa bill.
Robert Weissman
Essential Information
e-mail: rob@essential.org
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