Policy recommendations

  • In its trade and industrial policies, the EU should take account of its development and public health commitments. Possible impact on developing countries of actions in the trade and industry domains should be assessed thoroughly and impact studies of civil society should be taken into account in a serious manner. The current belief in IPR as a tool for development and the policy coherence in this field should be reassessed objectively and discussed with civil society in a transparent manner.
  • The European Union should refrain from pursuing the inclusion of TRIPS+, WTO+ and even EU+ provisions designed to protect intellectual property rights in any bilateral or multilateral trade agreements with developing countries (including those not defined as LDCs).
  • The EU should not limit, and instead encourage, the efforts of developing countries to use (TRIPS) flexibilities as a public health strategy. In addition it should lobby for the compulsory licence for developing countries without production facilities to be made valid for all similar countries at once (including non-LDC developing countries) and (considering the limits) for other initiatives to be developed, such as patent pools. The EU should actively stand up to European pharmaceutical companies that try to limit the use of compulsory licensing in developing countries.
  • The EU should ensure its interests in enforcement and developments in ACTA will not hamper trade in generic medicine or lead to any more seizures of these. In particular it should not demand adoption of current EU or EU+ enforcement rules, such as border measures, to be introduced in developing countries. 
  • The European Parliament should adopt a Resolution on these recommendations with a view to affirming the ECs commitments to Health and Development, as well as demand  its right of access to all negotiation documents (such as ACTA) and the use of co-decision power to prevent the EU from pursuing agreements that can damage public health.

 

Case: TRIPs & Access to Medicines

23-11-2010 MEP Childers asks Commission how to eradicate TB

World wide millions of people die from Tuberculosis (TB). In Europe TB is eradicated, unfortunately this disease remains wide spread in developing countries. TB, together with malaria and AIDS, is considered one of the three big killers, nevertheless it remains a neglected disease. MEP Childers (S&D) mentions that Catherine Ashton, vice president of the Commission plans to finance vaccination programmes in Africa and South-East Asia, and  thus he asked the Commission how they are going to eradicate TB world wide.

The European Union claims that Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) are a tool for development. However, not only do property rights have a negative influence on the prices of medicines in developing countries, they also do not encourage further research for neglected diseases such as TB.  Pharmaceutical companies stopped their research for improved and cheaper cures, simply because they will not make enough profit from patients in developing countries only. This is the main flaw in the patent system and a crucial incoherence that needs to be solved. Fair Politics welcomes the attention given by this MEP to the possibility of the eradication of TB world wide.

For the concerns expressed about neglected diseases and TB, MEP Nessa Childers (S&D) is recognised as Fair Politician.

Monitor fair: S&D

Parliamentary questions
E-8607/2010
20 October 2010
WRITTEN QUESTION, by Nessa Childers (S&D)

Subject: Vaccinating against TB in developing countries

Despite the availability of a vaccine, 1.3 million people worldwide died from tuberculosis (TB) in 2008, according to the World Health Organisation. Most of them lived in Africa and Southeast Asia. Worldwide, TB is usually ranked as one of the three big killers, along with AIDS and malaria.
This is despite the fact that the human form of TB has been almost eradicated in Europe, including in my own country of Ireland. When Ireland rid herself of TB in the 1960s, it was the country's defining health move of the 20th century.
Bearing this in mind, do Commission Vice-President Ashton's plans for development aid include plans to finance an extensive TB vaccination programme in Africa and Southeast Asia?
What are the Commission's long term plans to aid the eradication of TB worldwide?