E-drug: WTO on access to medicines
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Dear e-druggers,
The Cipla's offer of selling 3 antiretrovirals at 350 US $ per year is a
major milestone in the fight against AIDS. This new fact has already
changed the mind of WHO, UNAIDS and UN regarding generics and access to
treatment. But WTO has changed nothing, because facts seem not so
important to this organisation, as clearly shown us in a recent article
: Mike Moore "Yes, drugs for the poor - and patent as well"
International Herald Tribune Feb 22nd
(http://www.iht.com/articles/11331.htm).
Mike Moore is not impressed by Cipla's offer. He still believes that the
solution of the problem is within the hands of big pharma : "One
promising idea is differential pricing; pharmaceutical companies would
charge less for drugs in poor countries than in rich ones. This is
consistent with the TRIPS agreement and is backed by, among others, the
World Health Organization, the European Commission, M�decins sans
Fronti�res and some industrialists. It is already starting to happen."
Yes, we in MSF support differential pricing, because we support any
solution for lowering drug pricing. But we don't believe this is the
magic solution, we don't believe this is going to happen. This will
happen more probably if there is a generic competition : there is no
reason to believe that big pharma will offer major discounts, if they
are not forced to.
Mile Moore still believes the market is the solution : "But by promoting
free trade we can make a difference. Openness is essential for economic
growth, which can help pay for better health care and sanitation." We
agree with him : the market has a role to play, and we strongly support
competition with generics...
Mike Moore still believes all big pharma arguments : "Industry puts the
average cost of developing a new drug at around $500 million. Were it
not for a patent system that rewards companies for risking millions on
research, anti-AIDS drugs would not exist." This is simply not true, Mr
Moore. There is no proof at all of these $500 million ; and public
research has been prominent for AIDS drugs. How can you believe the
industry when they have a clear interest to lie ?
WTO needs to look more carefully at facts and forget theory and ideology
for a while.
Pierre Chirac
MSF
pierchir@club-internet.fr
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