E-drug: MSF, Oxfam, TAC press release: S.African court case
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear all e-druggers,
Below is the press release issued this morning by MSF, TAC, and Oxfam in
response to the announcement that the 39 drug companies have dropped their
case against the South African government unconditionally.
DRUG COMPANIES IN SOUTH AFRICA CAPITULATE UNDER BARRAGE OF PUBLIC PRESSURE
Powerful precedent set for other developing countries
Pretoria, South Africa, 19 April 2001- In response to resounding global
denunciation of their lawsuit, 39 drug companies today unconditionally
dropped the case they pursued for three years against the South African
government. The end of the lawsuit clears the path for the 1997 Medicines
Act to go into force, allowing importation of affordable medicines and
increased use of quality generic drugs.
"This is a real triumph of David over Goliath, not only for us here in
South Africa, but for people in many other developing countries who are
struggling for access to healthcare. We have been encouraged and
strengthened by the support we've received from around the world, and we
are especially grateful to the 260,000 concerned citizens and 140
organisations from 130 countries who signed the global "Drop the Case"
petition," said Zackie Achmat, head of the Treatment Action Campaign.
The outcome of the case signals a dramatic shift in the balance of power
between developing countries and drug companies. It sends a clear message
to the African heads of state, who are meeting next week in Nigeria to
discuss HIV and other diseases, that lives should and can take precedence
over patents.
"Now nothing should stand in the way of countries who want to ensure
long-term access to affordable medicines," said Ellen 't Hoen, MSF legal
advisor. The outcome of this case will help countries to take full
advantage of their rights under international trade rules to make use of
pro-health measures such as parallel imports and compulsory licenses. "We
don't think the drug companies will be taking another developing country to
court anytime soon," she concluded.
A group of African nations have already taken the initiative to defend
public health by convening a special session at the World Trade
Organisation to examine the impact of international patent rules on health.
(This session will take place in Geneva on June 18 at the WTO's TRIPS
Council.)
"This is a rare and very meaningful victory of the poor over powerful
multinational companies! But our challenge now is to work together with
drug producers and government to get medicines to those who need them,"
said Kevin Watkins of Oxfam.
For further information: MSF-Samantha Bolton 082-858-3429 or Toby Kasper
082-332-9713; Oxfam-Helen Palmer 082-448-3299; TAC-Mark Heywood
083-634-8806 or Zackie Achmat 083-467-1152.
----------------------
Suerie Moon
Editor
Access to Essential Medicines Campaign
M�decins Sans Fronti�res (MSF)
rue du Lac 12
CP 6090
1207 Geneva
Switzerland
tel: +41 (22) 849 84 01
fax: +41 (22) 849 84 04
access-com@geneva.msf.org
www.accessmed.msf.org
--
Send mail for the `E-Drug' conference to `e-drug@usa.healthnet.org'.
Mail administrative requests to `majordomo@usa.healthnet.org'.
For additional assistance, send mail to: `owner-e-drug@usa.healthnet.org'.