# \[e-drug\] Open Letter to Novartis - Brazilian NGOs **URL:** \ **Category:** e-drug\ **Created:** [February 14, 2007, 1:35pm UTC](https://talk.edrugplus.org/t/e-drug-open-letter-to-novartis-brazilian-ngos/27327 "2007-02-14T13:35:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gabriela\_Chaves1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9dc877/32.png) [@Gabriela\_Chaves1](https://talk.edrugplus.org/u/Gabriela_Chaves1)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2007, 1:35pm UTC](https://talk.edrugplus.org/t/e-drug-open-letter-to-novartis-brazilian-ngos/27327/1 "2007-02-14T13:35:17Z")
E-DRUG: Open Letter to Novartis - Brazilian NGOs ------------------------------------------- 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 Hon’ble 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 Hon’ble 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)