After much discussion and hard-won willingness to shift positions on what a chair referred to as a “difficult resolution,” member states concluded the 2007 World Health Assembly on 23 May with the adoption of an agreement on innovation of medicines and intellectual property. But it was done without support from the United States, the biggest medicines innovator. The resolution requests the World Health Organization (WHO) to get more involved in supporting member states using trade law to improve access to treatments, and to encourage discussion of new incentive mechanisms for research and development (R&D), such as addressing the link between the cost of R&D and the price of medicines.
Health equity in economic and trade policies
World Health Assembly Agrees On IP And Innovation; US Abstains
Gerhardsen TIS, Intellectual Property Watch, 23 May 2007
A Row to Hoe: The Gender Impact of Trade Liberalization on our Food System, Agricultural Markets and Women‘s Human Rights
Spieldoch A: IATP and the International Gender and Trade Network, 2007
This research paper draws together analysis of recent trends in food and agriculture from a gender perspective within an analysis of how trade and investment have affected food security and agricultural development. Although a number of case studies exist exploring how women have been affected by changes in global and local food systems, few have situated these case studies and their findings in the more global context of international trade and investment. This paper explores these linkages, pointing to the connections as well as to the need for further research to deepen our understanding of why women, who aremore than half the world’s population and overwhelmingly responsible for child nutrition, must be involved in policy decisions that affect agriculture and food security.
Africa: Unfair Trade a Hurdle to War against Aids
Wasai JN: The East African Standard, 13 March 2007
The ability of African countries to respond to HIV and AIDS is dependent on their ability to control the terms of trade, elicit more favourable patent policies on medication and climb out of poverty - all linked to globalisation. While globalisation has brought some benefits to the urban elite in Africa - information, communication and technology - the outcomes have not reached the urban poor and rural folk who form more than 80 per cent of African populations.
An EPA secures a predictable trade regime in Ugandan export market
Nahamya SG: EPA Flash News
This paper argues that Uganda needs a secure and predictable trading regime with their main export market in the EU. This makes an EPA essential. The possible shocks that normally come with any change have been well anticipated and safeguards built into the negotiations and ultimately the EPA. Safeguards include for example designation of certain products as sensitive and therefore not eligible for tariff reduction (liberalization) when imported into Uganda, longer (up to twenty five years) tariff phase-down/reduction periods for products where tariffs may be reduced, and reservation of the right to restrict imports should they threaten to cause injury to domestic industry.
Further details: /newsletter/id/32257
EPA low down
Traidcraft 7, January to March 2007
This newsletter looks at the current state of play on EPAs and the global campaign for fair trade.
Further details: /newsletter/id/32216
Forward with the Struggle to Stop EPAs
A declaration of the 9th Annual Meeting of the Africa Trade Network: SEATINI Bulletin 10 (3), 30 March 2007
African Trade Network which brings together Civil Society Organisation dealing with trade in Africa expressed their concern that while there is wide-spread recognition of the dangers posed by EPAs to the economies and peoples of the ACP countries, this has not yet led to fundamental changes in the design of the EPAs and the process of negotiations. Instead the EC simply adopted new rhetoric to continue to impose its parameters, agenda and momentum on African and other ACP groups. It is against this background that this statement of theirs was issued.
Patents, Parallel Importation and Compulsory Licensing of HIV/AIDS Drugs: The Experience of Kenya
Sihanya B: Managing the challenges of WTO participation: Case Study 19
Patents, the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) and Kenya’s Industrial Property Act, 2001 have been blamed as scapegoats in the problem of accessing AIDS drugs in Kenya. This paper presents the steps taken and limits encoiuntered in the response to AIDS. It proposes that Kenya invest in research and development, strengthen its national health law and policy and patent law, all of which have affected AIDS research and development, to improve care and support.
A new low in the Pharma Drug Wars - Abbott withdraws seven medicines in Thailand
Baker BK: Health GAP, 14 March 2007
Abbott's abrupt decision to withdraw seven pending registration applications, including one for a new heat-stable form of Kaletra, and its threat to make Thailand a no-drug zone for all new Abbott medicines is a truly appalling example of corporate hubris. After touting itself to the be the engine of new life-saving discoveries, Abbott is now willing to withhold medicines altogether in order to extract even greater intellectual property concessions from developing countries.
Further details: /newsletter/id/32159
AIDS drug access alert: Abbott denies new drugs to Thai people
AIDS Healthcare Foundation, 14 March 2007
US drug giant Abbott Laboratories has banned its new drugs in Thailand in response to the Thai government's decision to protect the health of its citizens by issuing a compulsory license on Abbott's AIDS drug Kaletra. Abbott's decision could potentially deny access to lifesaving drugs to the more than 500,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in Thailand, as well as to others with serious health conditions. The company's move has sparked outrage throughout the global health community.
Bipartisan group of senators introduce the African Health Capacity Investment Act of 2007
United States Senator Dick Durban, 7 March 2007
A bipartisan group of Senators today introduced the African Health Capacity Investment Act of 2007, a comprehensive bill to help sub-Saharan African nations confront the alarming shortage of health workers; thirteen countries on the continent have fewer than 5 physicians per 100,000 people. The United States has 549 physicians per 100,000 people. "Increased funding from governments and private donors to expand health services holds the promise of saving millions of lives in Africa. But, a severe shortage of health workers on the ground represents a tight bottleneck slowing the flow of resources to patients who need them," said Dr Paul Farmer, medical anthropologist and a founder of Partners In Health. "Sub-Saharan Africa faces a shortage of more than 800,000 doctors, nurses, and midwives and an overall shortage of 1.5 million healthcare workers. The bill introduced, particularly with its focus on harnessing the power of paid community health workers, is a much needed step toward closing this gap."