Increasing Access to Needed Medicines
International News and Events
19 November 2002
Oxfam has commissioned a review of
the US government's bilateral policies on patents and medicines to find
out how far it has lived up to the commitments it made to public health at Doha.
The report also looks at the lobbying record of the giant pharmaceutical companies
and their influence over US government policy. The findings are damning. The
US government continues to take up bilateral complaints against developing countries
relating to patents and medicines on behalf of pharmaceutical companies and
at the expense of public health.Click here to read the full
report; summary; Reuters
coverage.
16 November 2002
The pharmaceutical industry as a medicine
provider, third article in a Lancet series on Medicines, Society and Industry.
By David Henry and Joel Lexchin. Click here
for a summary of this article.
11 November 2002
PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT
HAI Europe supports Oxfam’s action to ensure that leaders fulfill their promises
made at last year's World Trade Organization (WTO) meeting. Click on this weblink
to sign on to letters calling on the EU and US to support a solution which allows
developing countries to obtain affordable generic versions of vital medicines.
Background.
Letter to Lamy (EU). Letter to Zoellick
(US)
31 October
- 1 November 2002
At the recently concluded TACD meeting in
Washington, two days were devoted to analysis of the problems of access
to medicines around the world, and policy advocacy to improve the growing access
crisis. Click here to read the
thought provoking presentations from the meetings – including proposals
for an overhaul of the patent system.
2 October 2002
HAI Europe publishes proceedings from HAI Europe/Medico International seminar
on access issues in Europe
Click here to read the full report
“Sustaining Access to Medicines in Europe: The coming crisis” (PDF
file)
12 September 2002
The UK Commission on Intellectual Property Rights today issued
its findings on Integrating Intellectual Property and Development Policy.
This important, well-balanced report
draws on views from government, industry and civil society experts, and presents
a number of critical action-oriented recommendations for the consideration of
the international community. It is particularly welcome in light of the preparations
of the TRIPS Council for deliberations on Intellectual Property and Health and
for the resolution of outstanding aspects of the Doha Declaration.
18 May
Roundup of news from the 55th World Health Assembly
Click here to
see press articles related to the Assembly.
Improving access to needed medicines:
Joint NGO briefing paper on access issues, available in English,
French and Spanish
Statement by HAI and other NGOs calling on WHO to step up its role in improving access to needed medicines
Report by the Secretariat on WHO's work expanding access to essential drugs as part of its medicines strategy (PDF file)
Resolution on ensuring accessibility of essential medicines considered by the WHA
WHO Director General's address to the 55th World Health Assembly (PDF file)
Debate on the global fund:
Note by the Director
General (PDF file)
Note by the Secretariat
(PDF file)
Discussion on GAVI:
A progress report
by the Secretariat (PDF file)
26 April 2002
NGOs (MSF, CPT, Oxfam and HAI) release report on Post-Doha Meeting on Access
Issues: Implementation of the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS agreement and Public
Health, Technical assistance - How to get it right. Click
here to read the report; report in PDF-format.
15 January 2002
HAI and other public health NGOs speak out on EDL and access at 109th EB
Click here to read the statement
WHO's actions on TRIPs, Globalization & Access to medicines.
Click
here for more information