WHO voice on medicines in transit to developing countries?

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E-DRUG: NGO views: WHO voice on medicines in transit to developing countries?---------------------------------------------------------------------------------http://www.keionline.org/blogs/2009/03/13/who-silence-goods-in-transit/NGO views: World Health Organization (WHO) voice on issue of medicinesin transit to developing countries?By Thiru Balasubramaniam, on March 13th, 2009On 18 February 2009, 16 civil society groups sent a letter toDirector-General Dr. Chan on the matter of the Dutch seizures of genericmedicines in-transit to developing countries. In the letter, Dr. Chanwas requested to "immediately undertake an assessment of the risks topublic health programs presented by such seizures and anyanti-goods-in-transit provisions that exist in current or proposed tradeagreements, including those relating to anti-counterfeitinginitiatives." In doing the assessment, the WHO was asked to "interviewdeveloping country governments, UN agencies and other entities engagedin the trans-border delivery of generic medicines to developingcountries, to fully document the extent to which medicines in transitare at risk regarding seizure or liability for infringement."On the same day, the same NGOS sent a letter to World Trade Organization(WTO) Director General Pascal Lamy. Mr. Lamy responded on 4 March 2009.[http://www.keionline.org/misc-docs/seizures/dglamyresponse.pdf]Lamy noted that "the issue at stake is certainly very important andsensitive. As such, it deserves to be adequately addressed so thatefforts to enhance access to medicines are supported and the creation ofbarriers to legitimate trade is avoided.. . "Your letter rightly points out the strong determination of all WTO Members to promote access to medicines for all which was explicitly confirmedin 2001 when the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health was adopted."Subsequently, UNITAID has issued a strong statement commeing the Dutchconfiscation of generic abacacvir, in transit from India to Nigeria, onbehalf of a UNITAID funded program run by the Clinton Foundation.http://www.unitaid.eu/index.php/en/NEWS/UNITAID-statement-on-Dutch-confiscation-of-medicines-shipment.htmlSeparately MSF has disclosed that it stores medicines in Europe, intransit to developing countries, where products are legitimate generics.TACD, HAI, Oxfam, MSF, KEI and others have also sent letters (here, andhere) to the European Commission and the Dutch government expressingconcern about the seizures of legitimate generic medicines.To date, the WHO has been silent on this issue.The following are the views of NGOs on role of the WHO in addressingpublic health concerns over goods in transit.Buko Pharma-Kampagne, Christian Wagner-Ahlfs (cwagner@...). "Cheap generics are essential for developing countries. Each attemptto label legally produced generics as counterfeit or product piracy,affects public health. We ask WHO to use its mandate for public healthby encouraging European governments not to block generic imports todeveloping countries."Health GAP, Brook Baker, (office: +1 617-373-3217, mobile +1617-259-0760, B.Baker@...). "Is the WHO's silence consent? Big Pharma, compliant customsofficials, and calculating trade officials are engaging in a groupembargo of legitimate generic medicines of assured quality, seized intransit as they move from a country of legitimate manufacture, India, tocountries of legal consumption and compelling need in Latin America andAfrica. As this outrage continues, week after week, nearly 20 seizures,the WHO maintains an eerie silence. Is this silence consent?"HAI Global, Tim , (+31 20 683 3684, tim@...). "As an NGO who has worked collaboratively with the World healthOrganisation (WHO) for many years on delivering increased access toessential medicines and the rational use of medicines in low and middleincome countries, Health Action International is dismayed that WHO hasremained quiet for so long about the recent spate of generic medicineseizures in Europe. This is an opportunity for WHO to show strongleadership and promote its own principle of universal access toessential medicines, with a clear message that the actions in Europeanports are unacceptable. Instead, we have a deafening silence."HAI Europe, Alves, (+31 20 683 3684, teresa@...). "The public health dimension of the European seizures of genericscannot be ignored. Yet, the clock is ticking while the internationalhealth community awaits WHO's reaction. WHO must act decisively to driveglobal health advocacy and represent the interests of those who do nothave access to the medicines they need."IQsensato. Sisule F. Musungu (+41 22 332 2562, sisule@...). "The silence of WHO on this issue may suggest a bigger systemicproblem. These systemic problems have existed in other organisations. Sowe have the Doha Development Agenda for WTO and the WIPO DevelopmentAgenda for WIPO. Time might be ripe to think more deeply about WHOgovernance and leadership."Knowledge Ecology, Love, (office +1 202-332-2670, mobile +1202-361-3040, james.love@...). "The WHO should protect the poor, and champion access to medicine.There is a campaign by a handful of giant pharmaceutical companies andtrade associations to undermine legitimate trade in generic medicines.As noted by the Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO),the seizures of medicines in transit to developing country markets is aserious issue. There are many resolutions and declarations that speak tothe need to promote access to medicines, and the WHO clearly has amandate in this area. The WHO needs to find its voice, and act."Medecins Sans Frontieres International, Campaign for Access to EssentialMedicines, Tido von Schoen-Angerer, MD (+ 41 22 849 8405,Tido.von.SCHOENANGERER@...). "The seizure of legitimate, life saving drugs in transit in theNetherlands is an important public health problem that has beendeliberately created through the influence of vested interest groups.WHO's silence on this issue is incomprehensible. WHO leadership cannotkeep shying away or limit itself to silent diplomacy whenever an issueis politically sensitive and could upset powerful groups. We need a WHOthat is a vocal leader of public health for the people."Oxfam GB, Seaward, (Tel: +44 1865 473411, Mob: +44 7887 632 660,CSeaward@...) "Urgent action must be taken to ensure that generic medicinesdestined for developing countries are not delayed or seized in transitthrough the European Union. Oxfam looks forward to a robust responsefrom the World Health Organization to ensure that developing countriesaccess to medicines is not threatened. The seizure also affectsmedicines bought by UNITAID, which is hosted by the WHO. This requireseven more urgent action from the WHO. The WHO should exercise thismandate, and start by providing a response to a letter sent by civilsociety groups that seeks to address this issue."TransAtlantic Consumer Dialogue, Anne- Lorrain (+32 473 99 9792, aclorrain@...). "The silence of the World Health Organisation (WHO) sends the wrongsignal on the crucial issue of the supply of legitimate genericmedicines to developing countries. Consumers are looking to the WHO toprovide leadership and expertise in resolving this issue, which iscritical for our life and health."Third World Network, Sangeeta Shashikant (office: +41 22 908 3550,mobile: +41 78 757 2331, sangeeta@...). "The lack of a prompt response by WHO on an issue that affectsaccess to medicines in developing countries is extremely disappointing.It suggest a lack of commitment and leadership in WHO. As anorganisation tasked with the attainment by all peoples of the highestpossible level of health, WHO must without any further delay push the EUto amend its Directive. WHO should also assess and speak out against theanti-counterfeiting initiatives such as IMPACT, WCO's SECURE, ACTA thatcould have serious consequences for the availability of generics andaccess to medicines."Thiru BalasubramaniamGeneva RepresentativeKnowledge Ecology International (KEI)thiru@...Tel: +41 22 791 6727Mobile: +41 76 508 0997Thiru Balasubramaniam <thiru@...>_______________________________________________Post message: e-drug@...Subscribe: e-drug-join@...Unsubscribe: e-drug-leave@...Help: e-drug-owner@...Info & archives: http://list.healthnet.org/mailman/listinfo/e-drug