[Viva] Fwd: GNP+ NEWS RELEASE: European Commission should mind the deadly impact of EU-INDIA Free Trade Agreement

[Margarite Sanchez]

Looks familiar doesn't it??
Why are the governments so dense?

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Martin Stolk (GNP+) <mstolk at gnpplus.net>
Date: Fri, Nov 5, 2010 at 8:52 AM
Subject: GNP+ NEWS RELEASE: European Commission should mind the deadly
impact of EU-INDIA Free Trade Agreement
To: margaritesanchez at gmail.com


*Amsterdam, 5 November 2010 - The Global Network of People living with HIV
joins with Médecines Sans Frontières to call for the European Commission to
stop pushing life threatening policies in its trade negotiations with India.
*

The European Commission is currently negotiating a free trade agreement with
India which includes policies and agreements that will greatly restrict
access to affordable medicines for people in developing countries.

India has a large pharmaceutical industry that is producing generic
medicines for life threatening illnesses such as HIV-infection. Trade
agreements, such as the one the European Union is negotiating with India,
will result in blocking access to this supply of affordable medicines in
countries beyond India and would risk the health of millions of people that
need these medications.

Many international donors, including European and other governments, have
previously purchased generic medications from India. In 2008 up to 90
percent of certain types of HIV medicines bought by international donors
were generics produced in India, which were then disseminated across the
world reaching millions of people living with HIV. Without the option of
generics, these people would have no treatment. Médecines Sans Frontières
alone for example is providing 160,000 people with HIV medications from
generic producers.

“Restrictive trade policies would indirectly kill people in need of these
medications,” stated Kevin Moody, International Coordinator and CEO of the
Global Network of people living with HIV: “It would also be a death sentence
for already weak health systems in developing countries where treating HIV
infection and HIV related illnesses is a heavy burden on small budgets.”

Generic medications are quality medicines which are produced and distributed
without patent protection. Most medications initially carry patent
protection, which is an exclusive right that prevents other companies from
producing, distributing and selling the medicine. When a patent expires –
typically after twenty years, or in case of emergency circumstances, patent
protections can be broken allowing for free market competition between
producers and subsequent price adjustments.

The India - EU Free Trade agreement is not the only threat for developing
countries to access affordable medicines. Europe has been closing different
bilateral trade agreements with countries around the world, which include
intellectual property provisions that are tougher than required under
international law. In addition, EC customs regulations in the past years
have led to custom authorities detaining several shipments of for example
HIV and high blood pressure medications from India destined for developing
countries.

The Global Network of People living with HIV is calling on other individuals
and organisations to support the MSF Campaign “EUROPE! HANDS OFF OUR
MEDICINE”.

To support the campaign, go to https://action.msf.org and send a message to
the European Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht to get his hands off the
medicines that keep us and our children alive.
------------------------------

*The Global Network of People living with HIV (GNP+) *is a global network
for and by people living with HIV. GNP+ advocates to improve the quality of
life of people living with HIV. The central theme for the work of GNP+ is
Reclaiming Our Lives! GNP+ programmes are organised under four platforms of
action: Empowerment; Positive Health, Dignity and Prevention; Human Rights;
and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. www.gnpplus.net

* More information about this news release:* Please contact GNP+ (Martin
Stolk, Communications officer, by email mstolk at gnpplus.net, or phone
+31-20-423 4114 or +31-6-1991 2406)

*Global Network of People living with HIV (GNP+)* - P.O. Box 11726 - 1001 GS
Amsterdam - The Netherlands - T: +31-20-423 4114 - W: www.gnpplus.net


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