Discussion Forums > General Chatter

Novartis Taking Indian Government to Court

<< < (2/2)

Danielle:
I signed it.  Novartis aggravates the hell out of me.   :mad

Manal:
I signed and made all my friends sign too :mad

Manal

jzd24:
I signed, too. Maybe it will do some good. Jean

Andy Battaglia:
From http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070430/ap_on_go_ot/copyright_piracy&printer=1;_ylt=AuM7IBrZeUaPhKFZyQmefFh2wPIE


--- Quote ---The Bush administration on Monday placed the 12 countries on a "priority watch list" which will subject them to extra scrutiny and could eventually lead to economic sanctions if the administration decides to bring trade cases before the World Trade Organization...In elevating Thailand to the priority watch list, the administration said it was concerned by a range of issues including a "deteriorating protection for patents and copyrights." Thailand is currently in a dispute with international drug companies including Abbott Laboratories of the United States over the cost of drugs to fight AIDS and other diseases.
The Thai government in January issued compulsory licenses allowing the use of much cheaper generic versions of two leading drugs in Thailand.
Representatives of U.S. companies applauded the new administration report but Oxfam America denounced the administration for what the international development agency said was a misstatement of the rights of U.S. companies under international trade rules.
"The report ignores important international agreements signed by the U.S. government ... which clearly state that developing countries have the right to place public health and the public interest over intellectual property rules," said Rohit Malpani, a policy adviser with Oxfam.
--- End quote ---

The US has signed these agreements that put people over profits in terms of life-saving drugs, but the continuing influence of the pharmaceutical industry on the Bush administration is once again evident. Bush's largest political contributions have come from the pharmaceutical industry and their reward seems to be this placing of their financial interests above international agreements that would protect people from price gouging. People need these drugs to survive and it is unconscionable to try to deprive them of their lives so that drug companies can reap even higher profits.

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[*] Previous page