This article provides a detailed analysis of the Rwanda-Canada use of the system created under the August 2003 Decision for the import/export of pharmaceutical products manufactured under compulsory license. It will describe the various procedures that the importing country, the generic pharmaceutical company and the exporting country have to go through, identifying lessons from the experience. The precedent that may be established is critical to the continued utility and functionality of the system under the August 2003 Decision.
Health equity in economic and trade policies
Rwanda and Canada: Leading implementation of August 2003 decision for import/export of medicines produced under compulsory license
Intellectual Property Quarterly Update: Third Quarter 2007
Some Intellectual Property Issues Related to H5N1 Influenza Viruses, Research and Vaccines
Hammond E: The Sunshine Project/ Third World Network, July 2007
A dramatic rise in international patent applications related to influenza is underway. This includes patent applications covering the virus itself, vaccines, treatments, and diagnostics. As recently as 1993, years passed with little or no such patent activity. In 2006, however, more than 30 international (Patent Cooperation Treaty) patent applications were filed on influenza vaccines alone, making it the largest year on record - but not for long. World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) data indicates that during the first half of 2007 as many influenza vaccine patent claims have been filed as in the entirety of 2006, meaning that this year is on track to at least double the record set in 2006. Together, these developments are resulting in a much more complex and limiting field of intellectual property claims than has ever before existed for influenza vaccine. And it is going to get worse.
The Macroeconomic Framework and the fight against HIV and AIDS in Africa
Policy Brief 3, The African Forum and Network on Debt and Development
In recent years, there have been increasing concerns about macroeconomic policy constraints interfering with the ability of many African governments to increase health sector spending and getting access to urgently needed funds for HIV/AIDS human resource development. The International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and, in particular, the IMF have been accused of undermining health care systems in many developing countries through conditionalities that favour budgetary ceilings as a panacea for macroeconomic stability. The economic policies sometimes affect overall spending, resulting in caps on the health sector, salary and recruitment of health workers and the acceptance of large amounts of financial assistance. AFRODAD has conducted a two country study aimed at looking at the links between macroeconomic frameworks provided by the International Financial Institutions (IFIs) and the social spending, and in particular, the fight against HIV/AIDS in Ghana and Malawi. This study reviewed the major channels through which fiscal and monetary policies impact on public expenditure frameworks and how this, in turn, affects the ability of the countries under study to design and implement public programmes concerning those living with and affected by HIV/AIDS and assessing the debt positions of the case studies to see how the HIV/AIDS has impacted on their financial portfolios and planning abilities or vice-versa.
WHO's Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG)
Tayob RK: SUNS (6364), 13 November 2007
Member governments of the World Health Organisation (WHO) ended a week of intensive negotiations on a global strategy and plan of action to improve access to health care in developing countries, in particular, health research and development on diseases disproportionately affecting developing countries. The negotiations at the WHO Intergovernmental Working Group (IGWG) on Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property Rights, chaired by Peter Oldham of Canada, were suspended on 10 November evening to resume again at a meeting tentatively set for 28 April to 3 May 2008. At the six-day talks, the negotiators are reported to have made some progress in a few areas, but with considerable and difficult negotiations ahead to agree and draw up "a global strategy and plan of action".
Africans call for greater voice in IMF
South North Development Network, 24 October 2007
African countries have called for greater voice in the International Monetary Fund (IMF), including not only an increase in formal voting power and representation at its decision-making bodies but also in the diversity of its staff members, to better represent their interests at the institution. In statements during the IMF’s Annual Meetings, African finance ministers and central bank governors have reiterated their calls for at least a tripling of basic votes as an outcome of the current quota and voice reform process to protect the voting shares of low-income countries. They also called for a meaningful and expeditious increase in their representation at the Executive Board, including an amendment to the Fund’s Articles of Agreement to enable Executive Directors representing large constituencies to appoint more than one Alternate Executive Directors.
Count down to the conclusion of Economic Partnership Agreements negotiations: Case for SADC and ESA
Trade and Development Studies Centre, 9 October 2007
The representatives of governments within the region, regional trade related organisations, ESA and SADC, parliamentarians, academia, the business sector, SMEs, labour met in Harare on 3-4 October 2007 to assess the readiness of ESA and SADC EPA configurations to sign an EPA; to take stock of the outstanding issues in the negotiations to date and; and to discuss measures to put in place in the event that the EPA is not signed by December 2007. On the basis of close analysis of the sate of EPA negotiations so far, new proposals and the issues arising, the hurdles met thus far, the challenges that lay ahead and the incisive presentations during the two days, further discussions were held.
Further details: /newsletter/id/32628
Credit squeeze and criticisms deepen crisis: IMF Fails to make progress on Reforms
Giles C, Callan E: Financial Times (UK), 21 October 2007
Rodrigo Rato bowed out as managing director of the International Monetary Fund with effusive plaudits from world financial leaders in public but sharp criticism of his role and the Fund's relevance from the same people when talking outside official news conferences. The emerging consensus among rich and poor countries alike was that the reform process of the IMF had moved backward. Worse, they added that acrimony over the Fund's role in assessing the economic policies of its members, their effects on other countries threatened to create just the disorder in the global economy it is intended to prevent.
Doubt over EU development credentials
Financial Times (Europe), 17 October 2007
This letter to the editor in the Financial Times expresses concern over Economic Partnership Agreements being negotiated between the EU and its African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) trading partners. The group of writers claim that the Commission is incorrect to claim that it has no legal choice but to raise tariffs in January 2008, and further recommend that instead of making threats, the Commission should focus on creating accords with the ACP that would genuinely support development.
European parliament ratifies TRIPS Amendment
BRIDGES 11 (36), 24 October 2007
The European Parliament on 24 October endorsed an amendment to WTO intellectual property rules aimed at easing poor countries' access to essential medicines, after the EU's 27 member governments promised to help developing nations manufacture and import affordable drugs. Legislators from across the political spectrum had thrice postponed voting on the amendment, pending additional pledges of monetary and political support for developing country public health programmes from EU member states and the European Commission.
Governments (still) pondering how to make drugs accessible
Cronin D: Inter Press Service News Agency, 30 October 2007
The struggle to make medicines affordable to the world’s poor, especially in Africa, is raging on at the highest levels. In the last week of October the European Commission took a landmark decision on generic drugs and next week a high-level intergovernmental meeting will look at ways to prevent patents from blocking access to drugs. In an agreement announced on October 23, European Union (EU) governments were told that they are free to make available generic versions of patented drugs for export to poor countries which lack their own manufacturing facilities.