E-DRUG: Five Years After Doha, Drug Prices Are on the Rise
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Countries Must Make More Use of TRIPS Flexibilities
Geneva, 14 November 2006 - Drug prices are on the rise five years after the
historic signing of the Doha Declaration on TRIPS* and Public Health at the
2001 World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial meeting in Doha, Qatar, the
international medical humanitarian organisation Medecins Sans Frontieres
(MSF) stressed today. Getting drug prices to decrease will require
countries to make more extensive use of the TRIPS flexibilities enshrined
in the Doha Declaration, which sought to 'protect public health and promote access to medicines for all.'
The case of AIDS illustrates the trend. While fierce generic competition
has helped prices for first-line AIDS drug regimen to fall by 99% from
$10,000 to roughly $130 per patient per year since 2000, prices for
second-line drugs, which patients need as resistance develops naturally,
remain high due to increased patent barriers in key generics producing
countries like India.
In a country such as South Africa, where MSF has been providing
antiretroviral therapy for five years, treating 58 patients on second-line
drugs costs the same as treating over 550 patients on first-line. In
addition, newer HIV medicines that are recommended by WHO can cost up to 50
times more, if they are even available in countries. These drugs will be
impossible to use unless generic competition drives down prices and helps
increase availability.
'In our projects, we feel the effect of higher drug prices on our budget,'
said Dr. Tido von Schoen-Angerer, Director of MSF's Campaign for Access to
Essential Medicines. 'We're seeing many countries make use of the Doha
Declaration to import medicines, but what is the use if soon there are no
generics to buy? Countries where drug producers are based need to take
steps to allow generic production and export of new essential medicines.
If this doesn't happen we'll be back where we started in no time because
treatment will become unaffordable again.'
The report released in April by the World Health Organization Commission on
Intellectual Property, Innovation and Public Health concludes that,
contrary to what its proponents often claim, intellectual property
protection has not led to increased innovation and access to treatment for
people in developing countries.
'Time has come to rethink the way new medicines are developed and paid for.
The current system based on patents and high prices to pay for innovation
leads to rationing and leaves huge health needs neglected' said Ellen 't
Hoen, Director of Policy & Advocacy at MSF's Campaign for Access to
Essential Medicines. 'The upcoming talks at the WHO on a action plan and
framework for essential health research and development in December offer
an opportunity to start this process.'
* Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights
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