E-DRUG: NGOs urge govt to boycott WHO meeting on definition of counterfeit drugs (5)
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Hi,
Please find below the article on Pharmabiz detailing the MSF's stand on the issue. This article is already posted in Netrum discussion group, yesterday.
We need to wait till 25th Nov to get a clear picture of this.
Regards,
Habeeb
India
habeebibrahim_ar@yahoo.co.in
MSF warns Indian govt of developed countries' attempt to trap generics under counterfeit drugs
Source: Chronicle Pharmabiz, Friday, November 21, 2008, Mumbai
The far cry against the WHO's attempt to give a new definition to
counterfeit drugs is mounting day by day. Close on the heels of the
Indian industry expressing concern over the WHO proposal, an
international humanitarian medical aid organization Medecins Sans
Frontieres (MSF) has urged the Indian government to keep away from the
developed countries' deliberate attempt to confuse the two totally
different issues of substandard drugs and counterfeit drugs which is
designed to trap the legally manufactured generic drugs from developing
countries under the definition of counterfeiting.
"By confusing the issues of counterfeit medicines and substandard
medicines, WHO and governments are attacking the wrong problem, which
does nothing to improve the quality of medicines, which is a far
greater public health concern. Counterfeit is a trademark and IPR issue
that should not be confused with quality issues," MSF's project manager
for India Leena Menghaney said.
In a letter to Union health
minister Dr Anbumani Ramadoss, the MSF urged the Indian government to
project a true picture in this regard at the forthcoming international
meeting called by IMPACT of the WHO on giving new definition to
counterfeit drugs. India's role at these negotiations will strengthen
negotiations by developing countries to prevent such trade barriers
from being created.
DCGI Dr Surinder Singh and joint secretary
in the Union health ministry Debashish Panda are scheduled to attend
the meeting to be held in Germany on November 24 and 25.
The MSF is seriously concerned that legally manufactured generics could
fall under the definition of counterfeiting being proposed under
international resolutions, agreements or treaties. Indeed the 'Anti
Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA)' negotiations are being conducted
with little participation from developing countries.
In addition, the anti-counterfeit issue also needs to be seen in the
context of moves by the European Union and other developed countries to
strengthen intellectual property enforcement. One such mode of
enforcement is to amend regulations that govern practices by customs
authorities towards counterfeit goods across the globe. In conjunction,
this could lead to customs authorities, seizing or delaying the transit
of legitimate generic medicines, on suspicion of being 'counterfeit'.
As a consequence, there is a risk that life-saving essential medicines
imported from India may be banned or held up, such as those used by
Médecins Sans Frontières in African countries to treat people living
with HIV/AIDS. The consequences on access to life-saving medicines and
on the sustainability of AIDS and other treatment programmes that rely
on generic production or importation would be devastating, MSF warned
the Indian government.
MSF currently treats 1.4 lakh people
living with HIV/AIDS in 27 countries including India. Most of the
patients in MSF's treatment programmes are receiving affordable generic
medicines manufactured in India that allow the MSF to treat the largest
possible number of people. Access to affordable medicines is therefore
key in making life-extending treatment available to more people who
need it.