E-DRUG: Intellectual Property Rights and Access to ARV Medicines: Civil Society Resistance in the Global South
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Hi E-Druggers,
On July 19th in Cape Town, South Africa, the Brazilian Interdisciplinary AIDS Association - ABIA hosted a panel discussion on "Intellectual Property and Access to Antiretroviral Medicines: Opportunities for South-to-South Cooperation." This satellite event, which was part of the 5th Conference on Pathogens, Treatment and Prevention of the International AIDS Society (IAS), sought to contribute to the discourse on issues related to intellectual property and access to medications for AIDS.
During the panel discussion, the following civil society organizers presented case analyses from their countries: Francisco Rossi (IFARMA Colombia), Renata Reis (GTPI Brazil), Kannikar Kijtiwatchakul (MSF, Thailand) and Joan Hu (China Global Fund Initiative,China). Each case expressed that civil society mobilization aimed to maintain and extend not only antiretroviral treatment, but also access to new medications.
According to Cristina Pimenta and Veriano Terto Jr., coordinators of ABIA, it was essential that the topics of access to treatment and the impact of intellectual property rules were addressed at this event. This was in view of the fact that the IAS Conference is a forum that unites distinguished scientists and medical researchers of the AIDS epidemic and major pharmaceutical laboratories. Some research results presented by various specialists at IAS recommend therapy that involves medication with less collateral effects, the so-called "third-line therapy." "How can we even speak about third-line therapy without contemplating that universal access for already existing treatment is far from a reality in the world considering current costs?" questioned Cristina Pimenta. (The current treatment used is called first-line and second-line therapy).
The satellite event was the second exchange of experiences between the mentioned countries and organizations. The first meeting, also organized by ABIA, took place at the International Conference of AIDS in Mexico in 2008. Due to the substance of the presented experiences and the possibilities of cooperation between the civil society organizations of the participating countries, that occasion inspired the production of a book about this theme by the same activists. This publication was launched at IAS 2009. Called "Intellectual Property Rights and Access to ARV Medicines: Civil Society Resistance in the Global South," the book is already available for download on the ABIA site http://www.abiaids.org.br/_img/media/Intellectual_Property_internet.pdf.
The objective of the publication and of the organized events is the enhancement and realization of joint actions aiming to guarantee universal access of antiretroviral medication for people living with HIV/AIDS.
The Conference on Pathogens, Treatment and Prevention of the International AIDS Society (IAS) is an event organized by the International Society of AIDS that takes place every two years. During the 5th Conference, approximately 5000 people participated from IAS. Predominantly scientifically oriented, the conferences have shed light on the most recent research related to prevention and treatment on HIV/AIDS.
For more information, please contact ABIA at +55-21-2223-1040 or by email abia@abiaids.org.br
Regards,
Renata Reis
Grupo de Trabalho sobre Propriedade Intelectual - GTPI/REBRIP
Associação Brasileira Interdisciplinar de AIDS - ABIA
Av. Presidente Vargas, 446/13 andar - Centro
Rio de Janeiro - RJ
Brasil
tel 21 2223-1040 fax 21 2253-8495
www.abiaids.org.br
renata@abiaids.org.br