AFFORDABLE MEDICINES AND TREATMENT CAMPAIGN

[Guest guest]

AFFORDABLE MEDICINES AND TREATMENT CAMPAIGN

Prices of New Medicines in India are going to rise!

YOU CAN PREVENT THIS..!!!!

Dear All,

Indian law will soon undergo change because India has signed the

international agreement on Trade Related Intellectual Property

(TRIPS). This change will have a huge impact on the Indian patent

law, which protects the invention of new products. The `process

patent' system used in India so far will be replaced by a more

restrictive `product patent' system.

The impact of this change on new medicines is unimaginable! Foreign

pharmaceutical companies will have sole rights to determine the

production, distribution, pricing and, therefore, availability of

new medicines. It is feared that such a situation will raise the

prices of new medicines to amounts that are unaffordable to most

Indians.

We wish to introduce you to a NATION WIDE CAMPAIGN ON AFFORDABLE

MEDICINES AND TREATMENT for all. Many people in this country do not

have access to medical treatment at present prices. The idea of

prices of new medicines being several times more expensive is surely

unthinkable.

This is an issue that will have a grave and far-reaching impact on

the right to life and health of all Indians and requires immediate

action by the Indian Government. Since the Indian Government has not

responded to this urgent issue, we as citizens of India who have to

face the eventual impact of TRIPS should ACT NOW!

This campaign plans to lay special emphasis on access to HIV/AIDS

medicines for opportunistic infections (OIs) and Anti-Retroviral

Therapy (ART). People with HIV/AIDS can prolong their lives with the

help of these medicines, which are already very expensive (minimum

Rs.1800 per month for ART). New medicines for the treatment of

HIV/AIDS are going to be even more expensive. If we do not stand up

against TRIPS now, many more lives will be lost to this epidemic.

We must create public awareness and mobilisation. This issue

concerns all of us and must be confronted by a mass and unified

effort. NGOs, doctors and HIV positive peoples groups across the

country have joined hands to launch this campaign. It will focus on

the accessibility of affordable medicines for all as a fundamental

human right that is enshrined in the Indian Constitution under the

right to life and health.

This campaign will be formally launched on World AIDS Day, December

1, 2001. Groups and organisations in Delhi are planning a public

meeting and candle light vigil demanding Affordable Medicines and

Treatment for all. Please find attached an invitation for this

program. We would be grateful if you could display the same at

prominent places and also extend the invitation to as many people

and groups as you can.

In advancing this campaign we need to reach out to as many

individuals and organisations as we can to create awareness on the

issue. We invite you to participate in this joint initiative. It is

very easy to join the campaign, all you have to do is write back to

us on this address for further information.

In order to create greater awareness on the campaign, a mission

statement, a leaflet, a flyer and a signature campaign form have

been prepared. these are being readied for dissemination. Please,

find, however, the mission statement of the campaign attached.

The following individuals and organisations, who have come together

in initiating this campaign, welcome and anticipate your support:

Delhi: Dr. Bitra (Salaam Baalak Trust/Sharan), Shaleen Rakesh

(Naz Foundation India), Delhi Network of Positive People (DNP+), Dr.

V. J. Anand (Maulana Azad Medical College), Lawyers Collective

HIV/AIDS Unit.

Manipur: Manipur Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS, Care Foundation.

Mumbai: Maharashtra Network of Positive People (MNP+), Swayam Siddha Sanghatana

(SSS); Population Services International (PSI), Raghav Narsalay (Focus on Global

South India), Dr. Nagesh Shirgoppikar (Forum Against Drugs), Tony

(Salvation Army), Lawyers Collective HIV/AIDS Unit, Dr. Maninder Sethia, Denzil

Mc; D.D.

Pune: Network of Maharashtra for Positive People (NMP+)

Goa: Positive People Goa.

Hyderabad: Rahul Luther (Freedom Foundation).

Bangalore: Ashok Rau (Freedom Foundation), Meera Levine (Alternative Law Forum),

Karnataka Network of Positive People (KNP+); Sanghamitra Iyengar (Samrakasha).

Chennai: Indian

Network of Positive People (INP+); Dr. Tokugha Yepthomi(YRG Care),

Chitra Narayan, Advocate.

Trivandrum: Dr. Jaysree (Foundation for Integrated Research in Mental Health).

Thank You,

AFFORDABLE MEDICINES AND TREATMENT CAMPAIGN

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[Guest guest]

dear all,

a posting had been made about the Affordable Medicines and Treatment Campaign

yesterday. here are the details of the programs in delhi on world AIDS day.

Prices of Medicines are going to rise!

ACT NOW OR PAY LATER! The right to health is a basic fundamental right

· This includes the right to accessible and affordable medicines and

treatment

· Prices of medicines, especially those for HIV/AIDS, are unaffordable

for most people today.

· India has to change its Patent Law in accordance with the WTO TRIPs

agreement by January 2005.

· This will make medicines even more expensive and totally unaffordable.

To demand the right to health for all, people living with HIV/AIDS, Activists,

NGOs, Doctors and Lawyers have joined hands to initiate a campaign

JOIN US FOR THE DELHI LAUNCH OF THE NATIONWIDE

AFFORDABLE MEDICINES AND TREATMENT CAMPAIGN

On

World AIDS Day

December 1st 2001

The programme:

3.30 pm to 4.30 pm - PUBLIC MEETING AT DEPUTY SPEAKER'S HALL, CONSTITUTION CLUB,

RAFI MARG, NEW DELHI

5.00 pm onwards - CANDLELIGHT VIGIL AT JANPATH, NEAR JEEVAN BHARTI BUILDING

For more details, contact: Sharan (Dr Bitra ) - 6868350, Delhi Network of

Positive People (Naveen) - 6219147, Naz Foundation (Shaleen) - 6563929, Lawyers

Collective HIV/AIDS Unit (Tripti/Akshay) 4321102/01

" HIV Aids Unit "

E-mail: <aidslaw1@...>

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