Pharmaceutical Innovation, Patenting and Compulsory Licensing

Despite the decline in the discovery of new medicines, there is a significant proliferation of patents on products and processes that cover minor, incremental innovations. A study conducted in five developing countries - Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, India and South Africa - evidenced a significant proliferation of "evergreening" pharmaceutical patents that can block generic competition and thereby limit access to medicines. It also found that both the nature of pharmaceutical learning and innovation and the interest of public health are best served in a framework where rigorous standards of inventive step are used to grant patents. The analysis suggests that local firms in developing countries are better supported where patent protection for minor incremental innovations is not allowed. If patent applications were correctly scrutinized, there would be no need to have recourse to compulsory licenses.

http://www.southcentre.org/index.php?option=com_
docman&task=doc_download&gid=2071&Itemid
=182&lang=en

Patents and the Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) Summit at the UN

The 19-20 Septembre 2011, the United Nations held a High level meeting to combat non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as cancer, diabetes, lung disease and cardiovascular disease. The debate centred on allowing countries, particularly the poorest nations, to use compulsory licenses to override patents and secure supplies of needed medicines. The issue revolved around intellectual property rights and access to drugs among the poor. There were also discussions on how governments can provide affordable access to treatments, especially in large countries with poor populations and limited means. This question of access to the latest medicines is a major issue in all countries, but mainly in developed countries

Price of medicines for non-communicable disease (NCD)

Access to Medicines Key to MDGs on Child Health

Despite the ratification by 194 countries of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1989, we are not there on the issue of Child Health. The UN reports that between 1990 and 2009, the number of children that died before their 5^th birthday has reduced by almost one third. There have also been some successful international efforts and pharmaceutical innovations, but a lot remains to be done. The Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network (EPN) has prepared “Access to Medicines, Key to MDGs on Child Health” published by Contact from the World Council of Churches, where several authors talk about the main child-killer diseases, and about what is being done and should be done to realize the MDGs on child health.

http://www.oikoumene.org/fileadmin/
files/wcc-main/documents/p4/contact/
Contact191_EN.pdf

The Right to Health and to Health Care for all

The “Platform for Action, Health and Solidarity” of which AEFJN is an active member, launched the “Declaration for the Right to Health and to Health
Care for all” at the Belgium Parliament. The statement calls on the Belgium and European decision makers to take health as a main concern in their agenda. In her introduction Senator Marleen Temmerman called the politicians to prioritize health care. Different health organizations from the North and the South presented the need for better health care. Belgian policy makers present reacted to the Declaration. The Minister of Health Lorette Onkelinx, confirmed the importance of international solidarity and sustainability for health systems. She mentioned that today health care is seen in the logic of profit, and thus given very little attention. The parliamentarian Sabine de Béthune regreteddd that Belgium gives less and less priority to health. She commited herself to bring health care to the Agenda of the Parliament. Cathy Buggenhour, head of Trade policy for Foreigh Affairs responded to the presentation on the impact of the Free Trade Agreements on health. Jacques Morel (Ecolo) reminded the importance of the Alma-Ata declaration (1978), where « health for all » was the objectif for 2000. He appealed for a change of the direction in Aid to health to a global approach.

http://www.sante-solidarite.be/node/146 (French only)

TRIPS, Intellectual property and Health:
frequently asked questions

http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/trips_e/public
_health_faq_e.htm

Zimbabwe - Aid programme dramatically improves health service

Zimbabwe's health system has experienced a critical shortage of drugs, equipment and trained staff, as result of the economic meltdown characterized by hyperinflation, shortages of basic commodities and a brain drain. Many Zimbabweans unable to afford the drugs from a private pharmacy, they resorted to traditional and faith healers who proved ineffective. But lately the situation at health centres has improved. Essential medicines are now available in Zimbabwe's public health sector, due to a multi-donor programme, the Medicines Supply Programme (EMSP) started in 2008 that has received till now US$52 million. The money is used to buy drugs and medical supplies which are distributed to health centres by Natpharm, the supply arm of the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare.

http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportID=93765

Governments and the Social determinants of health

The social determinants of health are the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age, including the health system. These circumstances are shaped by the distribution of money, power and resources at global, national and local levels, which are themselves influenced by policy choices. The social determinants of health are mostly responsible for health inequities - the unfair and avoidable differences in health status seen within and between countries.

http://www.who.int/social_determinants/en/

World Health Organization (WHO) is convening a global conference on 19-21 October 2011 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to build support for the implementation of action on social determinants of health. The conference will bring together Member States and stakeholders to share experiences on policies and strategies aiming to reduce health inequities.  http://www.who.int/sdhconference/en/

The great billion dollar drug scam

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2011/06/
20116297573191484.html (1st part)

Le Cap-Vert exporte des médicaments vers
la Guinée-Bissau

The pharmaceutical Inpharma from Cape Verde, that already exports medicines to Sao Tome and Principe, is now considering, to spread its products from Guinea-Bissau to neighbouring countries, including Guinea Conakry. The products from Inpharma are subject to rigorous quality control, so that the medicines have a European quality. The company produces 73 pharmaceutical medicines in Cape Verde, which represent about 35 per cent of the pharmaceutical market in the archipelago. The rest of medicines come mainly from Portugal.

http://www.afriquejet.com/sante-medicaments-2011091822600.html
(only in French)

Revamping Nigeria Pharmaceutical Industry

With over 75 per cent of essential drugs being imported in Nigeria, coupled with weak state of production facilities at Nigeria’s pharmaceutical manufacturing sector, lack of meaningful patent legislation/pricing, reimbursement system, widespread corruption and graft has not only made regulation enforcement difficult, it has further led to serious faking and adulteration of original brands of drugs as well as prevented companies from raising their capacity to produce drugs, in line with international standards. In a move targeted at repositioning local pharmaceutical manufacturing companies in the country towards manufacturing drugs in line with international standards, the Pharmaceutical Intervention Fund (PIF) initiative will bail out the sector with an intervention fund of N200 billion (US $1.3billion). 

The impact of removing health care user fees
in Sierra Leone

The 2010 World Health Report on Health Financing for Universal Coverage leaves no doubt that user fees are a bad idea. WHO’s Director General says they constitute “by far the greatest obstacle to progress" on the path to universal access. The introduction of free care for pregnant women and children in 2010 in Sierra Leone - a post-conflict nation with a crumbling and severely under-resourced health system and one of the highest rates of maternal deaths in the world - provides very relevant lessons for the numerous other low-income countries facing similar challenges.

http://www.actionforglobalhealth.eu/blog/?p=1331

Keeping a measure on malaria in Africa

The African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) has launched a scorecard to improve the fight against malaria on the African continent. Updated quarterly, provides information from each country on policies formulated, preventative measures initiated, money spent, lives saved and lost. The scorecard launched on 21 September, describes, how Angola and Burundi removed taxes and tariffs on anti-malarial commodities such as mosquito nets, medicines and insecticides. It tells how Côte d'Ivoire distributed 8.9 million nets in 2011, bringing the country closer to achieving universal net coverage. The scorecard is very important because it gives African countries the chance to compare how they are doing with peer countries.

http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=93796

Burkina Faso - Malaria vaccine trial raises hope

Around a hundred different malaria vaccine candidates have been developed to date but the MSP3 vaccine tested in Burkina Faso is only the second one to show a substantial level of protection against the illness. The trial was designed to test safety, but researchers found that vaccinated children had high levels of protection. A larger study involving 800 children is now to take place in Mali. There is hope that the vaccine will ultimately be very cheap to produce. The vaccine is based on the fact that some adults in Africa acquire immunity because they are constantly exposed to the disease.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-15008866

Cervical cancer on the rise in developing world

In 2010, an estimated two million women around the world developed breast cancer or cancer of the cervix (the neck of the womb); more than 600,000 died - the equivalent of six large passenger planes crashing every single day.  The study is the first global analysis of trends in cervical and breast cancer incidence and mortality, using data from 187 countries. It shows that while breast cancer deaths are concentrated among older women in richer countries, 76 percent of cases of cervical cancer now occur in developing countries, where almost half those cases are in women under 50. In developing countries, breast and cervical cancer in the reproductive age groups, are important health problems.

http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=93767

KENYA – Non-communicable diseases and HIV
fight for limited resources

The crowd of health issues jostling for a share of Kenya's inadequate health budget is expanding, with activists calling for an increase in resources for the management of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which account for more than 50 percent of hospital deaths and admissions. According to the WHO, the Kenyan government spends just 5.8 percent of its budget on health. This represents less than half of the 15 percent pledged by African leaders under the Abuja Declaration of 2001. Worryingly, government spending on health appears to be shrinking rather than growing. In 2000, health spending was 9 percent of total government expenditure and reliance on external sources for health funding rose from 8.8 percent in 2000 to 26.8 percent, according to WHO.

http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?ReportID=93766

MADAGASCAR - Leprosy making a comeback

 A surge in new leprosy cases in the East coasts of Madagascar could come at a bad time. Once a prosperous vanilla-exporting town, Antalaha has suffered the economic consequences of two years of political instability. The consequence of the insecurity has been a drop in the vanilla market that has happened at the same time that the raise in the price of rice. People are becoming poorer and more susceptible to illness, and the public healthcare system is receiving less money from the government. Government spending for health dropped to $2 a person in 2010, compared to $5 in 2009 and $8 in 2008.

http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=93824

It is impossible to prevent professionals from moving

In the developing world, tens of thousands of health workers have left their country in search of better opportunities abroad. Their reasons are varied, but often they look for better working conditions and a more appropriate salary. One of these nurses tells her story and mentions that it is impossible to prevent people from moving. Despite the many difficulties, leaving one’s country to go somewhere else is always a learning process.

Malaria vaccine could have extra benefits

 The malaria vaccine that has eluded medical science for decades is now within reach with the final phase of clinical trials underway in seven African countries, including Malawi.  In Malawi, the disease claims 6,500 lives a year, most of them children under the age of five. Most researchers agree that a malaria vaccine will not substitute for current preventative measures, but could greatly reduce mortality from the disease and create huge financial gains for countries where malaria is endemic. Public health researchers estimate that in such countries, malaria directly absorbs one percent of GDP, excluding indirect costs like loss of work hours. 

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportID=93024

Ghana - Malaria investment pays off

A report released at the World Economic Forum has shown that a multi-million rand AngloGold Ashanti investment in a malaria control programme in Ghana has led to massive reductions in productivity losses, school absenteeism, infant mortality and treatment costs. This is evidence that the fight against malaria can be won. According to the World Health Organisation's Roll Back Malaria (RBM) programme, Malaria is costing Africa U$12-billion annually in lost productivity.

http://www.health-e.org.za/news/article.php?uid=20033147

CRITICS CHALLENGE GAVI'S VACCINE SPENDING PRACTICES

Critics are challenging the way a major procurer of vaccines for the developing world operates. The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI), a public-private initiative that recently raised US$4.3 billion, has come under fire for the way it spends its money. The GAVI model depends on giving more and more money, year after year, to get vaccines to poor countries in ways that are not self-sustaining and at prices that are unaffordable. GAVI's decisions are skewed by the pharmaceutical companies that sit on its board.

http://www.scidev.net/en/features/under-fire-critics-challenge-gavi-s-vaccine-spending-practices.html

SOUTH AFRICA - HEALTH SYSTEM REVOLUTION

The South African health department has revealed that every electoral district is set to have a primary health care nurse-driven team established in the future with specialist doctor teams assigned to districts where maternal and child mortality is highThe recruitment of retired nurses to promote health schools will kick off in June 2011. The Health minister, after a study tour to Brazil, announced that he was determined to revitalise the country’s primary health care system, copying some of the successes from the Latin American country.

WEST AFRICA - MENINGITIS CASES DRAMATICALLY DOWN

The roll-out of a revolutionary meningitis vaccination in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger has dramatically cut transmission rates, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). If each country can find sufficient funds to co-finance the campaign, it will be extended to all 25 countries in the Africa meningitis belt by 2016, says the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI). In the 2010-2011 meningitis season, Burkina Faso has confirmed just four cases of meningitis A; Niger has reported four cases; and Mali none, according to WHO.

http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportID=92985

http://video.who.int/streaming/MenAfriVac/MenAfriVac_eng.wmv (video)

NGOs and access to essential medicines

The article describes and assesses the activity of NGOs and social enterprise in essential medicines wholesaling. Low-income countries' impoverished populations generally struggle for access to essential medicines through out-of-pocket purchases on poorly regulated markets, resulting in ill health, drug resistance and further impoverishment. In the absence of effective governmental activity and regulation, social enterprise and NGOs can improve access to good quality essential medicines, as they can exercise a broader regulatory influence over their markets by influencing the behaviour of competitors.

 http://www.eldis.org/cf/rdr/?doc=58232 

EU Customs Regulation don’t dispel fear of
Medicines Seizures

In 2008, shipments of legitimate generic medicines transiting through Europe were detained by customs authorities on allegation of IP rights infringement. Members of the European Parliament, NGOs and certain Members of the WTO[1] expressed their concern about the impact of such detentions on the trade in legitimate medicines. The Commission said in a fact sheet that a new draft customs regulation will address past concerns over wrongful seizures of generic drug shipments transiting through European ports. But the proposed regulation does not change existing rules defining what an IPR infringement is and does not appropriately address the problem of the faulty interception of lawful generic medicines.

Legal questions about ACTA

ACTA, the Anti-Counterfeit Trade Agreement that under the cover of fighting piracy strengthens intellectual property rights, has been questioned by parliaments and civil society in many countries. In January 2011, European academics issued an “Opinion of European Academics on ACTA.”  In June, the Mexican Senate asked the government not to sign it. At the end of June, the European Parliament's Trade Committee (INTA) asked the Parliament’s legal service to answer some questions about ACTA and the UN International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. 

http://acta.ffii.org/?p=655

Which Tablets To Buy?

A very easy to read booklet for workers in health centres in Africa that answers certain questions. How can we assure the quality of the medicines we are buying? What do we need to know? What precautions should we take?
You are requested to circulate it in your clinics, health centres and in the public.

http://www.aefjn.org/index.php/358/articles/which-tablets-to-buy.html

WHO consultation Africa on non-communicable diseases

To address the growing problem of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), technical experts and Ministers of Health in the African region gathered in April in Brazzaville, Congo, for the first African regional consultation on NCDs under the auspices of the World Health Organization (WHO) to discuss the region’s response to the crisis. The Brazzaville consultation prepared a joint regional position for the First Global Ministerial Meeting on Healthy Lifestyle and Noncommunicable diseases control, and for the WHO to be held in New York from 19- 20 September 2011.

KENYA - Steady progress in infant AIDS vaccine trial

The Phase I trial of the HIV vaccine candidate, modified vaccine virus Ankara (MVA.HIVA), carried out in Kenya has been successful.  It is intended to test the safety and efficacy of the vaccine candidate in infants. The vaccin contains small particles of HIV genes, but researchers say it cannot cause HIV infection since it does not contain the whole virus. Should the vaccine prove efficacious, researchers say a trial would be conducted on another vaccine to be combined with MVA. The resultant vaccine would then be administered to children at birth like any other vaccine and could greatly help prevent HIV infection in children in future.

http://www.heraf.or.ke/kenya/kenya-steady-progress-in-infant-aids-vaccine-trial.html

African countries the hardest hit by malaria

Dans cette carte, la taille
d'un pays est remplacée par
la proportion de morts par malaria qui y ont lieu.
Graphic: Benjamin D Hennig, University of Sheffield/UNICEF

The 2010 World Malaria Report provides estimates for the world's 106 malaria-endemic countries and highlights progress – and shortcomings – on key international targets. Malaria has affected the world and its people since the beginning of recorded human history, and it remains an entrenched global health challenge. Approximately half of the world's population is at risk. But the global geography of malaria is increasingly disproportionate. The vast majority of malaria cases and malaria-related deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa.  Meanwhile, outside Africa, the malaria map is shrinking, as more and more countries eliminate malaria from their territory. 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/datablog/2011/apr/25/world-malaria-day-data

Foundations, Conflicts Of Interest And Drugmakers

Melinda et Bill Gates at Davos
(Image: Flickr)

Major philanthropic foundations, such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, regularly make the news with their donations and initiatives aimed at improving global health. But there is an aspect to their efforts that may be overlooked - such organizations can have links with drug makers that could constitute a conflict of interest. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's corporate stock endowment is heavily invested in food and pharmaceutical companies, directly and indirectly. The Foundation will soon be the largest stakeholder of Coca-Cola and Kraft in the world.

The World Medicines Situation Report 2011

The third edition of the World Medicines Situation Report brings together new data on 24 key topics relating to pharmaceutical production and consumption, innovation, regulation and safety – in one place. Topics include selection, procurement, supply management, rational use, financing and pricing. Cross-cutting chapters cover household medicines use, access and human rights, good governance, human resources and national medicines policies. Report Available online at:

http://www.who.int/medicines/areas/policy/
world_medicines_situation/en/indix.html

Health System Strengthening, a Publication of the World Council of Churches

The magazine Contact from the World Council of Churches has dedicated its n. 189 to the strengthening of Health Systems focus on Church based pharmaceutical human resources. The document has been published by the Ecumenical Pharmaceutical Network (EPN) of which AEFJN is a member. The issue offers cases, constraints, successes and challenges, service provisions, analysis, and concrete experiences for a new medicine supply system.

You can find the document in English at:

http://www.oikoumene.org/fileadmin/files/wcc-main/documents/p4/contact/Contact%20189%20English.pdf

Mali - 7 tons of counterfeit medicines intercepted!

In the district of Koury, Mali Customs catched last March a batch of 7 tonnes of fake drugs from Nigeria destined to a Malian operator. This outlet is the largest catch this service has made ​​these past three years. The thugs had thought of all diseases. There were, among others, over 35,660 tablets of paracetamol, 1,680 doses of syrup of malaria, chloroquine, vitamin C, balms, capsules and other syrups. Many African countries are victims of counterfeit drugs. This is a major cause of the high mortality rates in the population. In Senegal, for example, about 350 000 deaths annually are caused by counterfeit drugs.

In French: http://www.legriot.info/2192-mali-7-tonnes-de-medicaments-contrefaits-interceptes/

The impact of user fees on access to health services

Studies conducted in 12 countries on the impact of user fees on people’s access to health services showed mixed results. When user fees were introduced or increased: people’s use of preventive healthcare services decreased. However, when the introduction of fees went together with quality improvement in health services, people’s use of curative services increased and poor parts of the population increased the use of health care services.  The removal of user fees had usually no immediate impact on people’s use of preventive healthcare services. But people’s use of these services did increase after some time. When user fees were decreased there was an increase in the use of preventive and curative healthcare services. Results were mixed and there was uncertainty about the effects of user fees on health service use.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21491414

The Sub-Saharan African Medical Schools Portal

The Sub-Saharan African Medical Schools Study (SAMSS), is a portal for information on medical education in Sub-Saharan Africa. Reports and articles that shed light on the current state of medical education in the region or describe innovations and trends that will shape the future of medical education in Africa are highlighted. It also provide links to relevant resources as well as information about the pioneering work done by the SAMSS team. Clicking on a country in the map you can find the medical schools in that country.

Congo-Kinshasa – Pharmacists lobby the National Assembly

To protect the population against diseases, pharmacists in DR Congo have lobbied the Parliamentarians in charge of preparing the legislation. They demanded the establishment of facilities that comply with pharmaceutical standards. Furthermore they called for the establishment of appropriate regulations for medicines circulating in the country, as irrational use of drugs leads to their ineffectiveness. Pharmacists mentioned that the poor preservation and the sale of illegal drugs, together with the bad advice given by unauthorized persons illegally engaged in pharmacy accentuate this phenomenon.

Nurse from rural Zambia awarded Swiss leadership prize

Agnes Lisulo Mulemwa, a Zambian nurse is spending her retirement years making a difference in the lives of women in her rural community. She has been awarded the Sylvia Michel Prize offered by the World Communion of Reformed Churches and Women Presidents of Regional Swiss Reformed Churches - for having created the Liyoyelo Batik Centre in Senanga (South-west Zambia) that provides training in income generating skills. Mulemwa has formed a network of church women active in community service called the Anamoyo .

http://www.wfn.org/2011/03/msg00123.html  

German police on the trail of ARV drugs destined to South Africa

German police are investigating several pharmaceutical wholesalers for allegedly diverting cut-price antiretroviral drugs from South Africa to Germany.Germany's Aids Aid Society denounced the trade, saying it may have deprived South Africans of life-saving medicine. Police say they tracked down two shipments in 2009 of Norvir pills via Switzerland, Belgium and Britain to one German wholesaler. The 300 boxes of the patent medicine were put into German-language packaging and sold.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Cheap-Aids-drugs-diverted-from-SA-20110224-2

Data on Health shows why action is needed

57 countries have a serious shortage of medical staff. In the most affected regions, there is less than 1 doctor for every 33,000 inhabitants! In France, the density is 1 doctor for every 300 inhabitants. Less than 10 dollars per year per inhabitant spent in health. This is 300 times less than what is spent in France. Health costs account for 16% of the total budget of developed nations, compared with only 4% in developing countries.

 Read more...

ETHIOPIA - Reducing TB risk in Addis Ababa

Health officials in Addis Ababa, are concerned about the spread of tuberculosis in the city's crowded public transport networks and tightly packed "DSTV [satellite television] houses" where ardent fans come to watch English and Spanish football. Now the city's TV and radio stations frequently air commercials urging people with coughs lasting more than two weeks to seek TB testing and treatment. Many public transportation vehicles also carry messages encouraging passengers to keep windows open to reduce risk.
http://www.plusnews.org/report.aspx?Reportid=92271

WHO List of Essential Medicines

Dark Green coutries with an essencial Medicines list

Essential medicines are medicines that satisfy the priority health care needs of a population. They are selected with regard to disease prevalence, evidence of efficacy, safety, and comparative cost-effectiveness. Essential medicines are intended to be available in functioning health systems at all times in adequate amounts, in appropriate dosage forms, with assured quality, and at prices individuals and the community can afford.

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs325/en/index.html

You can find the essential medicines for different countries, by clicking on the country on the map of the following webpage: 

http://www.remed.org/RDC_liste_des_medicaments_essentiels.pdf

Huge price increase in medicine despite
publicly funded testing

The article shows how a medicine after having been produced in pharmacies, tested with federal money, is taken up by a drug company and licensed by the FDA. The price increases 100 times! Now it is almost impossible for health care personnel to use it. The cost to the company is only the manufacturing cost (which also the pharmacies had) and the licence fee. Because it has been approved, pharmacies can no longer manufacture it. 

http://healthpolicyandreform.nejm.org/?p=13971&query=home

UN Resolution on Global Health

On 9 December the UN General Assembly adopted resolution A/65/L.27 on the issue of global health and foreign policy. The resolution was passed following presentations by Brazil, representing the group of countries who comprise the initiative of global health and foreign policy (Brazil, France, Indonesia, Norway, Senegal, South Africa, and Thailand); Belgium, representing the EU; India, representing the Asian countries; Vietnam, speaking on behalf of the ASEAN member states; Switzerland, the USA, Japan, Australia, and the Holy See. The text of the resolution can be accessed at http://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/65/L.27

Member state commentary on the resolution (provided by Global Health Europe) can be found at http://tinyurl.com/4b6p4v3

WHO Role in Stopping Poor Quality Medicines

The role of the World Health Organization in the safety, quality and efficacy of medical products is under scrutiny this week by member states and stakeholders. In particular, the focus is on the WHO’s role in the prevention and control of medical products of compromised quality, the organisation’s relationship with the international taskforce against counterfeit products, and the taskforce’s alleged focus on the protection of intellectual property rights rather than on public health issues. In several documents, the WHO tries to explain this fragile role.

Link to the article: http://www.ip-watch.org/weblog/?p=14614&utm_source=weekly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=alerts

UN Nations agencies propose mechanisms to lower Medicines Costs

Three United Nations agencies, the World Health Organization, UN Development Programme, and UNAIDS, have joined together to explain in a new policy brief the hard-won flexibilities in international intellectual property (IP) rules. The aim is to improve access to HIV treatment, in the current economic climate that undermines the affordability of needed drugs.
The 1994 World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) constructed a strong IP enforcement system. Negotiators at the time worked in a variety of exceptions and limitations called “flexibilities” that less-developed countries could employ to soften any negative impacts of stricter enforcement and ensure they retained the ability to take actions in their own best interest.

 Read more...

WAEMU regulates registration of medicines

Since January 2011, WAEMU, West African Economic and Monetary Union, has established regulation  procedures for registration of pharmaceuticals products for human use. This harmonized and appropriate legislative framework takes into account international standards, and will enable member states drug regulation authorities to register pharmaceutical products, and to better control the importation and distribution of pharmaceuticals. The regulation aims at providing mechanisms for an increased monitoring of drug products on the market.

UEMOA Document only in French

Kenya High Court instructs UN in case against
generic ban

Read more...

The European Parliament approves
new rules against fake drugs

A new law to prevent fake medicines from entering the legal supply chain was approved by Parliament on 16 February 2011. Protecting patient safety is the core aim of this directive. Internet sales will be covered by the law, which also introduces new safety and traceability measures, as well as sanctions against counterfeiters. This law still needs to be formally approved by the Council of Ministers.  There has been a huge growth of this criminal activity, with an increase of 400% in seizures of fake drugs since 2005.

Read more...

Shortage of essential drugs amidst crisis in Côte d'Ivoire

There is a concern that stocks of essential drugs to treat malaria, a deadly disease for children, are running out . Some district pharmacies have run out of anti-malarial drugs, but the shortage could affect other essential drugs soon. If these drugs are not dispatched rapidly, patients could be forced to stop treatments, including basic antibiotics.

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Eye on the Ball - Oxfam Report

The report shows the need for regulation against substandard medicines, not enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights. Poor quality medicines threaten patients and public health in developing countries. Prioritization of medicines regulation by developing-country governments, is badly needed. Yet under the guise of helping to address dangerous and ineffective medicines, rich countries are pushing for new intellectual-property rules and reliance on police - rather than health regulatory - action. This approach can undermine access to affordable generic medicines and damage public health.

Read a summary of the report

Find and download the full report

Meningitis Vaccine Developed for Africa at Affordable Price

A new, highly-effective vaccine launched in 2010 now offers the hope to fight one of the most fatal forms of meningitis in Africa. The important aspect is that it was not developed by one of the big pharmaceutical companies, but thanks to a partnership between the non-profit organization PATH and the Serum Institute of India which ensured it would both meet the needs of people in Africa and be affordable.

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1101 Mali – Free malaria treatment for children and pregnant women

On November 29, 2010, Mali has released a ministerial decree by which the prevention and treatment of malaria in children less than five (5) years and pregnant women will be free in public hospitals, Reference and Community Health Centers. This also includes the drugs for treatment and prevention by sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine tablets as well as mosquito nets treated with insecticide.

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110128 Generics Deal May Speed AIDS Drug Access in Africa

Johnson & Johnson struck the first deal to license an experimental AIDS drug before regulatory approval, reigniting debate over how much companies should do to speed access to HIV treatments in poor countries.

J&J’s Tibotec Pharmaceuticals unit has agreed to let three generic drugmakers provide copies of TMC278 in sub-Saharan Africa, India and parts of Asia if it’s approved by regulators. That could make the pill available for a hundredth of the price that customers pay in the United States and may prompt similar deals by rival drugmakers. This could indeed facilitate these products making it into the developing world at lower prices than could be offered just by the developers of the drugs themselves.

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