Switzerland pressures Colombia to deny compulsory license on imatinib
Ambassador Livia Leu, Head of the Bilateral Economic Relations Division and Delegate of the Federal Council for Trade Agreements, Switzerland
Access to Medicine
WTO Trade Policy Review of India- EU, Japan, Switzerland and the US question India over Section 3(d) and Compulsory Licensing
June 2015 – WTO Trade Policy Review of India: Section 3(d) and Compulsory Licensing under the Spotlight
Sanders offers amendment to create compulsory licenses on medical inventions, for veterans
On Wednesday, July 22, 2015, the Senate Veterans Committee held a mark-up to consider several bills. During the mark-up, Senator Sanders offered an amendment, attached below, that would create a compulsory license mechanism in the Department of Veterans Affairs, for patents on medical inventions. (See amendment text below). The motivation for the amendment was a crisis in the VA involving access to drugs for the hepatitis C virus (HCV).
Two page summary: What does the TPP do as regards prices of drugs and other medical technologies?
Attached is a 2 page summary of the main provisions in the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) that will lead to higher prices for drugs and other medical technologies.
A pdf version of the note is available here: /wp-content/uploads/KEI-TPP-Briefing-2015-2-A2M.pdf
What does the TPP do as regards prices of drugs and other medical technologies?
KEI TPP Briefing note 2015:2
June 10, 2015
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Sign-on Letter to USTR, be honest about impact of TPP on prices, access to medicines
KEI is circulating a sign on letter to be sent to Ambassador Michael Froman of USTR. We learned that in a USTR has been stating that there was no evidence that stronger intellectual property rules created barriers for access to medicine.
This is a shocking statement for USTR to make, and we are seeking confirmation and clarification of USTR’s assertion. The text of our letter follows below.
If you would like to sign on to this letter, please send your name, city and state of residence, and affiliation if any, along with contact details (only for confirmation if necessary), to:
June 2015: WTO reports on India’s Section 3(d) and compulsory licensing provisions – WTO Trade Policy Review – India
On 2 June 2015 and 4 June 2015, the World Trade Organization (WTO) is conducting a trade policy review of India. All members of the WTO are subject to review under the Trade Policy Review Mechanism (TPRM). The TPRM takes place in the “Trade Policy Review Body which is actually the WTO General Council — comprising the WTO’s full membership — operating under special rules and procedures” (Source: WTO, Trade Policy Reviews: Brief Introduction).
WHA68 KEI side event: Andrew Goldman speaking on compulsory licensing of HCV drug patents
On Thursday, May 21, 2015, KEI and KEI Europe hosted a side event at the 68th World Health Assembly on compulsory licensing of patents on drugs, vaccines, and diagnostic tests. The event was graciously hosted by UNAIDS in the Kofi Annan room.
Letter from Senator Bernie Sanders to the VA, asking for compulsory licenses on Hepatitis C drugs.
Attached is the text of a letter sent by Senator Bernie Sanders to Robert A. McDonald, the Secretary, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, asking the Secretary “to use your authority as Secretary of Veterans Affairs to break the patents on Hepatitis C medications for the treatment of veterans suffering with the disease.”
KEI Comments to DHHS on WHA68 agenda 11.2, Framework of Engagement with Non-State Actors
On Friday May 8, 2015, the US Department of Health and Human Services held a listening session to solicit input on the agenda items for the upcoming 68th World Health Assembly. KEI delivered five interventions covering a range of critical WHA topics. The full provisional agenda of the 68th WHA can be accessed here: http://apps.who.int/gb/ebwha/pdf_files/WHA68/A68_1-en.pdf
Seminars on Drug Pricing: Part 1, Paul Grootendorst
Today, KEI hosted the first talk in a series of seminars on drug pricing. The seminar, conducted via video conference, focused on the Canadian approach to drug pricing. Each seminar in the series is intended to contribute to the discussion on drug pricing and how we can improve affordability and access to medicines. Paul Grootendorst began with a presentation (the slides are available here), before opening up the discussion to questions from those participating in the video conference.