IAC: Satellite Session “New threats to access to medicines

[Guest guest]

Dear friends,

As you know, the XVIII International AIDS Conference commences in Vienna on 18

July 2010. We invite those of you who will be there to a satellite session being

hosted by Lawyers Collective HIV/AIDS Unit titled “New threats to access to

medicines”. Intellectual property rights allow monopolies and allow

pharmaceutical companies to charge exorbitant prices on medicines putting them

out of reach of those who need them.

If we are to make universal access to medicines for all PLHIV a reality, we have

to work together to assess the threats to universal access through intellectual

property rights. Please see the invite below.

We request you to forward the email to others, who may be there and who you

think may be interested in the issue.

In solidarity,

Lawyers Collective HIV/AIDS Unit

Apologies for cross-posting

_____________________________

NEW THREATS TO ACCESS TO MEDICINES

Satellite Session at XVIII International AIDS Conference, Vienna

As of 2009, 9.7 million people living with HIV (PLHIV) are estimated to be in

need of treatment and approximately 4 million PLHIV are receiving treatment.

Will we be able to ensure universal access to medicines for all PLHIV who need

it? Will each of them be able to continue to take their medicines?

Even as we work towards universal access to medicines, newer threats and hurdles

have emerged. But, what are the threats?

Did you know that …

· Over the last two years, legitimate, generic medicines being sent

from India to other developing countries were stopped in transit in the EU

because of the EU’s intellectual property enforcement rules?

· There are attempts to block safe “generic” medicines by terming

them as “counterfeit”?

· The EU, Japan, US and other developed countries are negotiating

free trade agreements with developing countries? These agreements push for

stronger standards of intellectual property protection and enforcement, which go

beyond developing countries’ present commitments under TRIPS and take away our

flexibilities under TRIPS?

· Though the UNITAID patent pool seeks to reduce prices of medicines

and make available fixed dosed combinations through the patent pool, several

questions remain unanswered?

How can we learn more? What can we do? What should we do?

WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US FOR A DISCUSSION

Date: 18 July 2010

Time: 1545 to 1745

Venue: Mini Room No. 1

Introduction to newer threats to access to medicines: Review of developments

thus far

Chair: Berger, Section 27, South Africa

Enforcement and border measures: recent developments and impact on access to

medicines in developing countries

Speaker: Veriano Terto Júnior, Associação Brasileira Interdisciplinar de AIDS,

Brazil

Anti-counterfeiting: Developments at the international level

Speaker: Sophie Bloemen, Health Action International

Anti-counterfeiting: Developments at national and regional levels

Speaker: Otwoma, National Empowerment Network of People Living with

HIV/AIDS in Kenya

Free trade agreements: Update on developments internationally

Speaker: Sanya Reid , Third World Network

Patent Pool: A critique

Speaker: Anand Grover, Lawyers Collective HIV/AIDS Unit , India

Discussion including questions and answers

Organised by Lawyers Collective HIV/AIDS Unit, India

Supported by Levi Strauss Foundation

For further details, contact us at aidslaw@...