E-drug: Urgent News from World Health Assembly
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Dear Colleagues,
Controversy surrounds HIV-AIDS resolution amendment on pricing data.
This morning the World Health Assembly delegates in Geneva began debate on
the HIV-AIDS resolution. HAI and its partner organisations here, MSF and
ACT
UP, have been lobbying for more transparency about drug pricing and the
creation of a pricing database which would provide information to countries
on generic and other drugs.
Brazil has put forward an strong amendment which calls for this and for
strengthening of the Revised Drug Strategy. France and South Africa support
the amendment as well as Zimbabwe and many more. The US delegation seems to
be pressuring countries not to support the amendment.
Below you will find our press release on this.
You can reach HAI at the Assembly at mobile no. 31-6-24 22 58 47.
Best wishes,
Lisa Hayes
HAI Europe
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ACT UP, HEALTH ACTION INTERNATIONAL (HAI), MEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES (MSF)
PRESS RELEASE
Public health advocates call for transparency on global medicine pricing
information
Geneva 17th May 2000. On the day that the 53rd World Health Assembly (WHA)
discusses HIV/AIDS; confronting the epidemic (resolution EB105.R17), public
health advocates call for the WHA to provide global pricing information on
quality medicines available to treat people living with HIV/AIDS and other
opportunistic infections. Member states should also be advised on the
management, legal and regulatory issues that must be addressed to ensure
access to these medicines.
Information on quality generic and patented drug prices enables countries
to
rationalise their purchasing policy. Developing countries could use this
tool to maintain control over their public health policies.
It is clear around the world that where generic competition exists, prices
of medicines are considerably lower. However, there continue to be
regulatory and legal barriers to purchasing and importing medicines. These
need to be resolved.
"This is the World Health Assembly not the world intellectual property
assembly." said Ellen 't Hoen, MSF health policy advisor. "The WHO and
countries are here to ensure that the public health of populations takes
priority over private profit. Member states need information and choice to
ensure the best healthcare for their people." she added.
The pricing data would empower developing countries to purchase greater
quantities of affordable life-saving medicines to ensure that treatment
options are not restricted to limited conditional price reductions which
are
dependent on corporate generosity.
Last week's statement of intent between UNAIDS and several multi-national
pharmaceutical companies camouflages the real issue that long term
sustainable solutions are needed on an international level. This agreement
does not encourage transfer of technology, nor does it stimulate countries'
rights to produce or import inexpensive quality drugs, an important part of
the long-term solution to improving access to medicines.
Affected countries in Africa were not included in the preparation
discussions of the price reduction and public/private partnership. Affected
countries around the world must be included in the process to find long
term
sustainable solutions.
For information at the WHA please call:
Lisa Hayes (HAI) +316 24 22 5847
Samantha Bolton (MSF) + 32 496 250 064
Gaelle Krikorin or Asia Russell (ACT UP) +33 609 177 055
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