E-DRUG: Open Letter to Novartis - Brazilian NGOs
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Drop the Case against the Indian Government!
February 14th 2007
Dr. Daniel Vasella
Novartis International AG
Schwarzwaldalle 215
4002 Basel
Dear Dr. Vasella,
The Brazilian organizations signing this letter would like to express their
great concern about how Novartis is acting against the Indian government
sovereign right to establish its own rules in relation to intellectual property
rights.
We consider that the new Indian Patent Act, enforced since 2005, is totally
compliant with the TRIPS Agreement of the World Trade Organization, as much
because it started to recognize patents for pharmaceuticals as because it
included TRIPS Agreement provisions to avoid the granting of frivolous patents,
which is a way to protect public health.
We know that the current patent system has severe implications on the guarantee
of the right to health and of access to medicines in the world, and especially
in developing countries. Even though big pharmaceutical companies have the
legitimate right to compete on the international market with their truly
innovative products, it is equally, or even more legitimate that countries are
sovereign to establish policies that aim at scaling up access to these
products, as well as to avoid abuses of a system proposed internationally
exclusively to promote private interests.
It is unacceptable that a transnational pharmaceutical company intends to
influence and modify national rules, created in completely conformity with
international agreements that deal with the issue, with the only interest of
maximizing profits to the detriment of the people's lives.
In Brazil, a strong social mobilization made it possible for people living with
HIV/AIDS to have universal access to pharmaceutical treatment. This reality is
the aim of all people living with HIV/AIDS in the world, as well as of people
living with other diseases. Thanks to generics produced in India, access to
treatment programs have been made possible, even if we are still far from the
ideal situation. However, drying up the source of these medicines or opening
the possibility of granting patents for old products or combinations of old
products will not allow the continuity of these programs.
We strongly support initiatives proposed by international organizations, such
as Medecins Sans Frontières, Oxfam and others asking Novartis to drop the case
against the Indian government.
We also want to insist that the Brazilian organizations signing this document
express their solidarity to those Indian organizations fighting to guarantee
the right to health.
Associação Brasileira Interdisciplinar de Aids (ABIA)
Av. Presidente Vargas, 446/13º andar - Centro
Rio de Janeiro/RJ - Cep: 20071-907
Tel: (21) 2223-1040 - Fax: (21) 2253-8495
E-mail: abia@abiaids.org.br - www.abiaids.org.br
Rede Brasileira Pela Integração dos Povos (Rebrip)
Grupo de Educação à Prevenção a Aids em Sorocaba (GEPASO)
Grupo de Incentivo à Vida (GIV)
Conectas Direitos Humanos
Aviapa - Candido Mota
D.I.E.T. Alto Tietê Mogi das Cruzes
Solar Eunice Weaver
Grupo Abraço
Grupo de Apoio Amor à Vida
Rede Nacional de Pessoas Vivendo com HIV/Aids, Núcleo Ribeirão Preto
Grupo de Apoio à Prevenção da Aids (GAPA), Ribeirão Preto
Centro de Convivência É de Lei
Identidade Grupo Ação pela Cidadania LGBT
Grupo Humanitário de Incentivo à Vida (GHIV)
Grupo de Apoio Social aos Portadores do Vírus HIV (GASPA) de Araraquara
Associação Vida Esperança
Bem-Estar Familiar no Brasil (BEMFAM)
Instituto Patrícia Galvão
Fórum Amazonense de OSC/Aids
Grupo de Resistência Asa Branca (GRAB)
Rede Nacional de Pessoas Vivendo com HIV/Aids, Núcleo Ceará
Grupo Pela Vidda, Rio de Janeiro
Ecos Comunicação em Sexualidade
Associação Brasileira Terras dos Homens
C.C:
Novartis Brasil
Caixa Postal 21.460
BR-04636-000 Sao Paulo SP, BRASIL
Fone: +55 11 55327122
Fax: +55 11 55327942
Novartis Biociencias S.A.
Av. Professor Vicente Rao, 90
Brooklin Paulista
BR-04636-000 Sao Paulo SP
Ministério da Saúde
Esplanada dos Ministérios
Bloco G, Brasília, DF
Cep:70058900
Tel:61-33152005/2748/2784
Programa Nacional de DST e Aids
SEPN 511 - Bloco C
70.750-543
Brasília - DF
Tel. (61) 3448-8000
Departamento de Ciência e Tecnologia e Insumos Estratégicos
Esplanada dos Ministérios Bloco G - Ed. Sede - 8º andar
CEP: 70058-900 - Brasília-DF
Fax: (061) 223-0799
Fones: (061) 315-2790/2839
Departamento de Assistência Farmacêutica e Insumos Estratégicos
Esplanada dos Ministérios Bloco G - Ed. Sede
8º andar
CEP: 70058-900 - Brasília-DF
Fax: (061) 223-0799
Fones: (061) 315-2790/2839
Indian Network for People Living with HIV/AIDS
Tel: 09840066386
Flat No: 6, Kash Towers,
#93, South West Boag Road,
T. Nagar, Chennai 17
Dr Anbumani Ramadoss
Honble Minster of Health and Family Welfare
Nirman Bhavan, Maulana Azad Road
New Delhi 110011
Tel: 91-11-23061751; Fax: 91-11-23062358
Naresh Dayal,
Health Secretary
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
New Delhi 110011
Fax: 91-11-23061252
Sri Kamal Nath
Honble Minster of Commerce & Industry
Room No. 45, Udyog Bhavan
New Delhi
Tel: 91-11-23061008, Fax: 91-11-23062947
Mr. T.C. James
Deputy Secretary to the Government of India
Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion
Room No. 259, Udyog Bhavan
New Delhi 110011
Te: 91-11-23061957 Fax: 91-11-23061919
Mrs. Sonia Gandhi
President
Indian National Congress Party
& Member of Parliament
10, Janpath
New Delhi 110 001
Tel: 91-11-23014161 Fax: 91-11-23018646
from
gabriela@abiaids.org.br
Associação Brasileira Interdisciplinar de Aids (ABIA)