David Cronin
30 October 2009
Brussels — The struggle to make medicines affordable to the world's poor, especially in Africa, is raging on at the highest levels. Last week 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 last week (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.
And next week, between November 5 and 10, a little-known group - the intergovernmental working group (IGWG) on public health, innovation and intellectual property rights - will meet in Geneva, Switzerland, to work on a plan of action.
This follows a 2006 World Health Organisation (WHO) report which found that unless there is greater clarity about some of the surrounding issues, patents will still be invoked by drug firms in a way that continues to deprive the poor of potentially life-saving medicines.
The humanitarian group Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders or MSF) is urging EU representatives to play an active role in framing this blueprint.
In last week's decision, the EU's executive, the European Commission, has undertaken not to hinder any of its 27 member states if they should decide to produce generic drugs as cheaper alternatives to patented drugs. The latter are normally too expensive for the vast majority of people in poor countries.
The accord was reached between members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and representatives of EU governments and the Commission. It will allow the Union ratify a World Trade Organisation (WTO) decision officially designed to increase the supply of medicines to poor countries.
The decision will give permanent effect to a 2003 waiver from the WTO's Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement. The waiver was designed to allow poor countries which lack production capacity to address public health emergencies by importing cheap generic versions of patented drugs produced under a compulsory licence.
The EU decision was originally made in December 2005 but MEPs had declined to approve it until they won concessions from the other main EU bodies.
As part of the agreement, the Commission has also undertaken not to insert any intellectual property provisions specifically related to pharmaceuticals in the free trade deals known as economic partnership agreements (EPAs) which are currently being negotiated with the almost 80 African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries.
Yet, while campaigners for access to medicines have applauded the deal, they point out that other measures must ensue if the severe shortage of essential drugs in Africa is to be reduced.
The United Nations has estimated that 25.8 million people were HIV positive in sub-Saharan Africa in 2005. In Tanzania, Ethiopia, Ghana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania and Zimbabwe, 90 percent of those who needed the anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) to treat AIDS could not obtain them.
Price is a major factor behind lack of access. Generic competition has helped to lower the price of a yearly supply of ARVs to 99 dollars per person - down from 15,000 dollars six years ago. Yet the "second-line treatments" needed by people who have developed resistance to their previous prescription are often several times more expensive than the older drugs in Africa.
"We won this battle, proving that it is crucial for the European Parliament to be united," said Italian Liberal Gianluca Susta, one of the MEPs who negotiated the deal.
"However, the real struggle for access to medicines against HIV/AIDS is still not over. Bureaucracy and reluctance from developed countries are often a major impediment. I am sure there will be other occasions when we have to return to this and reaffirm our stance," said Susta.
Despite the assurances given by the European Commission that it will not insert provisions inimical to public health in the EPAs, concerns remain about other clauses related to intellectual property which are contained in draft EPAs prepared by EU officials.
Many African countries are not currently focused on intellectual property in the EPA talks, given that the Commission has revised a plan to have comprehensive deals finalised by the end of this year. On October 22, the Commission signalled that EPAs signed during 2007 will instead be mainly limited to trade in goods, leaving discussion on other issues to a later date.
Still, analysts have questioned why some of the intellectual property clauses suggested by the Commission for the EPAs are almost identical to provisions in EU law. Some argue that applying stringent rules in this area will not be conducive to industrial development in Africa.
"It's really not necessary to include IP (intellectual property) provisions," said Fleur Claessens from the non-governmental organisation the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development in Geneva. "We would like to keep them out of the EPA debate."
But an African diplomat involved in the negotiations said he believed that better copyright rules than those now applying are necessary. "Nobody wants to flout intellectual property rules outright," said the diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity.
"If an inventor comes up with a telephone and sees a photocopy of it the following day, that's not good. The kind of intellectual property rights you have in Europe will not be good for us. What will be good for us is something we decide ourselves," the diplomat said.
Commenting on the two developments, MSF campaigner Alexandra Heumber told IPS that "from a political point of view, it's really good that the European Parliament has accepted the deal. It shows that MEPs have been very committed to access to medicines.
"On the other hand, the EU needs to change the system because we see that the patent system is insufficient in providing medicines to developing countries. The EU must adopt a pro-public health policy in the IGWG," Heumber said.
MSF is pushing for an international fund to finance research and development on neglected diseases. Just 1 percent of the nearly 1,400 new medicines approved between 1975 and 1999 were for treating tropical ailments and tuberculosis, despite these diseases comprising 10 percent of the world's "disease burden".
Another idea being discussed is that of "pooling" patents, whereby drug firms would agree to combine their patents and license them to one another or to third parties. Such an approach to intellectual property is already common in the technology field, for example where common standards are required for DVDs or for audio and video files on the internet.
The WHO is exploring whether it could host an international patent pool system under which agreements would be negotiated between pharmaceutical firms and governments in poor countries.
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****************** OLD SCHOOL DISEASES *****************************
MATTHEW 4:24 News about him (Jesus Christ) spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them.
QUESTION - What was the basic cause of most of these OLD SCHOOL DISEASES ; when Jesus Christ was healing them in person ?
ANSWER - There were many causes, but one thing they didn’t do in Jesus Christ time (as far as our known history tells) was add ARTIFICIAL INGREDIENTS to natural .
****************** NEW SCHOOL DISEASES ***************************** REVELATIONS 18 :23
And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in you; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in you: for your merchants were the great men of the earth; for by your SORCERIES were all nations TRICKED ..
The word SORCERIES = The word PHARMACIES MANY DOCTORS ARE DECEIVED INTO DECEIVING THEIR PATIENTS , by the Pharmaceutical (Sorcerer’s) Companies. [ Revelations 18:23 ]
• Defeating The Drug Counterfeiters . What about the drugs ? God gave us all the natural herbs to heal us. • Drugs are even prevalent in our food; disuisged as preservatives and other deceitful purposes.
PARABLE OF THE GMO GAME AND ITS ORIGINATOR (Satan aka D-Evil ) And Jesus said another parable to them, saying, “ The kingdom of heaven is like a man which planted good seed in his field: But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares (GMO / FAKE) among the wheat (NATURAL), and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. So the servants of the householder came and said to him, Sir, didn’t you plant good seed in thy field ? Where did these weeds (GMO/ FAKE) come from ? The Householder said to them, An enemy (D-Evil) has done this. The servants said to him, Do you want us to pull up the weeds ? The Householder said, No ; we don’t want to hurt the NATURAL plants by accident.
Let the GMO /FAKE & NATURAL grow together until the harvest. And in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather together first the tares (GMO/ FAKE) , and bind them in bundles to burn them (In The Lake Of Fire & Brimstone). Then gather the wheat into my barn. (PARADISE) “ [Matthew 13:24 -30 - Paraphrased]
ROACH GENES IN CORN [http://ixquick.com/do/metasearch.pl?query=Roach+genes+in+corn&cat=web&pl=f f&language=english]
Here’s a few MAJOR artificial ingredients that Are killing us in the food industry : - - Fluoride – Is In our water , toothpaste, mouthwash, bread, etc..
MSG (Mono-Sodium-Glutamate) – in a lot of our snack foods - formaldehyde when it mixes with our stomach juices. • Formaldehyde is another name for embalming fluid; which is what the funeral people pump into the dead bodies !
* There are some natural alternatives to using this crap, but it’s up to you to care enough to get out of a rut and change your habits into better habits. Here is some info : -
1) Subscribe to Alternative Health News Sources -
* ThePower Hour via gcn live or on demand 24 hours a day
* The Health Ranger – get regular email updates * Infowars via GCN (Genesis Communications Network)
* Jeff Rense (rense.com)
2) GCN hosts a lot of health products . - At the top is Air & Water – Keep It Pure
3) As much as you can, shop Health Food Stores and make sure they aren’t pretending or posing as weeds among wheat .
4) Replace the Aspartame (FAKE SWEET) products with Stevia a natural sweetener . There are other natural sweeteners God put here; Stevia (“Steh-Via” ) IS MY CURRENT FAVORITE…DIABETES DOESN’T HAVE A CHANCE WITH STEVIA AROUND !!
5) Don’t microwave or use any other radiation-emitting products (e.g. cell phones..OUCHHH !!! - If you must use you cell phone, there are some products that allegedly protect against these radiation emissions from cell phones.
6) Pass The Good News On
Check Out These Health-Related Sites
AIR PURIFIER - ARANIZER (www.aranair.us )
Berky Water Filters - http://berkywater.com/ / 1-888-803-4438
Activated Charcoal [Charcaol Remedies.com
Calcium Bentonite Clay via www.naturesbodybeautiful.com.
enerfood.com $39.95 for 2 month supply / 1-866-762-9238
KDF SHOWER FILTER $49 - 1-888-803-4938
Himilayan Goji Juice [FreeLife.com ] - cs@freelife.com - 800.882.7240
HEMP OIL 1-800-643-4221
herbalhealer.com / 1-870-269-4177 [ For free 120 page catalog
Ionized Minerals (liquid) 99.9% pure- nurtitiongeeks.com / 1-651)645-5565
Royal Jelly ] * beealive.com / 1-800-717-2645 [
[http://nutrimedical.com/] – SUPER GERM WARFARE FIGHTERS
[Himilayan Crystal Salt ] [http://www.americanbluegreen.com/ ]
http://www.starwest-botanicals.com [ OrderStevia Organic
CLIFF SCOTT ENTERPRISES [ cliffscott.com / 1-800-569-4340 [ get free catalog )
http://www.tomvalentine.com / carotec.com- Get CAROTEC free catalog by calling 1-800-522-4279
* http://www.fijiwater.com/ [Fiji Water ]
MATTHEW 10:26 DON’T BE AFRAID OF THEM, FOR THERE IS NOTHING COVERED THAT WON’T BE REVEALED AND THERE IS NOTHING HIDDEN THAT WON’T BE KNOWN.
Remember the 120 ! in the Upperroom, Gideon’s 300, One(1) believer can chase 1,000 demons & Two (2) can make 10,000 run .
How many will 1 million chase ?
Here’s An abbreviated Spirit Bomb prayer that I’d like for us to say to God The Creator Of All :
OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN , HOLY IS YOUR NAME, YOUR KINGDOM COME , YOUR WILL BE DONE, IN EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN .
- In Jesus Name We Pray – Amen
Pray twice per day once around sunset & once around sunrise .
Have prayer lists which include Family, Chritians, Truthseekers ,& Worthy Causes , etc…
SOME OF OUR LEADERS OR UNDER DEMONIC INFLUENCE , SOME OF OUR
WORLD IS UNDER THE SAME,. OUR UNITED , CONSISTENT, CONTINUOUS
PRAYERS WILL HELP US TO SEE THROUGH JESUS’ EYES. REMEMBER , HE’S
THE HEAD, WE HAVE NO EYES, EARS, NOSE, MOUTH, ETC..WITHOUT THE
HEAD. THAT IS WHY WE WALK BY FAITH, NOT BY SIGHT, SOUND, TASTE
OR ANY OTHER NATURAL DISTRACTION. WE ARE SPIRITUAL WARRIORS !!!
Make a Habit Of Praying Twice a Day (Sunset / Sunrise). Have A Daily Prayer, Weekly
Prayer , Monthly Prayer, even Yearly Prayer ; keeping persons, organizations and causes
in mind that you’d like to pray for at these intervals of time ( Daily-Weekly-Monthly-
Yearly).
Some prayer list suggestions –
(DAILY PRAYER LIST ) -
Christian & Natural Family -
TOP-PRIORITY Persons, Causes & Oragnizations
(WEEKLY PRAYER LIST ) -
MID-LEVEL Persons, Causes & Oragnizations
(MONTHLY PRAYER LIST ) -
- Persons, Causes & Oragnizations ( For Example – Heads Of Countries)
(YEARLY PRAYER LIST ) -
LOWER LEVEL - Persons, Causes & Oragnizations
[God Bless You Readers To Want To Know And Seek To Know The Truth] - MAY GOD BE A HAVEN OF PEACE IN OUR TIME OF TROUBLE --
[This inspiring poem was featuring in the movie “Coach Carter ”]
Our Deepest Fear Is Not That We Are Inadequate, Our Deepest Fear Is That We Are Powerful Beyond Measure. It Is Our Light , Not Our Darkness That Most Frightens Us.
We Ask Ourselves, Who Am I To Be Brilliant, Gorgeous, Talented, And Fabulous ?
Actually Who Are We Not To Be ? You Are A Child Of God.
Your Playing Small Doesn’t Serve The World.
There Is Nothing Enlightened About Shrinking So That Other People Won’t Feel Insecure Around You.
We Are All Meant To Shine, As Children Do.
We Were Born To Make Manifest The Glory Of God That Is Within Us.
It’s Not Just In Some Of Us; It’s In Everyone.
And When We Let Our Own Light Shine We Unconsciously Give Other People Permission To Do The Same.
And As We Are Liberated From Our Own Fear, Our Presence Automatically Liberates Others
- Marianne Williamson -
[NOTE – BEING AFRAID AND REFUSING TO GET INVOLVED WON’T STOP US FROM DYING. BUT BEING AFRAID CAN PREVENT US FROM LIVING]
(Nkosi Sikeleli Africa )
God bless Africa May her glory be lifted high Hear our petitions .
God bless us, Your children God we ask You to protect our nation Intervene and end all conflicts Protect us, protect our nation, our nation.
From the blue of our heaven, From the depths of our sea, Over our eternal mountain ranges, Where the cliffs give answer.
Sounds the call to come together, And united we shall stand, Let us live and strive for freedom, In South Africa our land.
[Enoch Mankayi Sontonga]
[http://www.infowars.com/infowars.asx] / [gcnlive.com] / [http://alexjonesringtones.net/]
WAKE UP ! STAY UP MY BROTHERS & SISTERS ! BE SELF-SUFFICIENT IN THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.
- Life Is a Game. Have Fun. [ Luke 18:17 / Isaiah 11:6 ]