Revista Eletrônica do Terceiro Setor
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Carta aberta de solidariedade ao povo tailandês
Autor original: Maria Eduarda Mattar
Seção original:
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3 de abril de 2007
O Grupo de Trabalho sobre Propriedade Intelectual (GTPI), da Rede Brasileira pela Integração dos Povos (REBRIP), junto às organizações abaixo assinadas vêm manifestar solidariedade à população da Tailândia, em especial àqueles que lutam pela garantia do direito à saúde e pelo acesso aos medicamentos.
O sistema de patentes, após a implementação do Acordo TRIPS da Organização Mundial do Comércio (OMC), passou a ter implicações severas na garantia do acesso a medicamentos no mundo, principalmente nos países em desenvolvimento.
As grandes empresas farmacêuticas têm o direito legítimo de concorrência no mercado internacional. No entanto, é muito mais legítima a autonomia dos países de estabelecerem políticas voltadas para a ampliação do acesso aos medicamentos. Cabe às nações soberanas evitarem os abusos do sistema proposto internacionalmente e que atualmente favorece unicamente os interesses privados.
Nesse sentido, deve ser apoiada a medida de saúde pública adotada pelo governo da Tailândia, que emitiu licenças compulsórias para medicamentos imprescindíveis para a garantia da saúde e da vida da população, a exemplo dos anti-retrovirais Efavirenz (Merck) e Kaletra, (Abbott) para tratamento do HIV e aids.
Trata-se de uma iniciativa que está em conformidade com as regras internacionais de comércio: Acordo TRIPS e Declaração de Doha da OMC sobre TRIPS e Saúde Pública. Além disso, é uma medida que foi amplamente utilizada em outros momentos por países desenvolvidos como os Estados Unidos e Canadá.
A medida também está de acordo com o Sistema Internacional de Direitos Humanos e, por isso, deve ser apoiada pelos organismos internacionais, como a Organização Mundial da Saúde e a Organização Mundial do Comércio e pelos governos dos países em desenvolvimento, inclusive do Brasil.
É inadmissível que a Abbott, uma empresa farmacêutica transnacional, pretenda incidir na política de saúde de um país, no caso a Tailândia, por meio de retaliações unilaterais que incluem a retirada do pedido de registro para novos produtos.
Atitudes como essas revelam os abusos criados pelas situações de monopólios absolutos permitidos pelas regras do Acordo TRIPS e demonstram os limites do atual sistema de patentes, baseado exclusivamente na obtenção de lucros em detrimento da vida das pessoas.
O momento é de união entre todos aqueles que sempre defenderam o uso das flexibilidades do TRIPS que são de interesse para a saúde pública, como é o caso da licença compulsória. É preciso denunciar publicamente a grave atitude da Abbott, que prejudica e desrespeita a população tailandesa.
O apoio irrestrito à Tailândia significa o apoio à primazia de todos os países de considerarem a saúde acima do lucro de empresas farmacêuticas transnacionais. Se sua instituição concorda com o conteúdo da carta e aceita aderir a iniciativa, pedimos que nos mandem um retorno confirmado a adesão.
Renata Reis
Associação Brasileira Interdisciplinar de AIDS
Av. Presidente Vargas, 446/13º andar - Centro - Rio de Janeiro
Tel. 21 22231040
Fax. 21 22538495
Endereço eletrônico: www.abiaids.org.br
Av. Presidente Vargas, 446/13º andar - Centro - Rio de Janeiro
Tel. 21 22231040
Fax. 21 22538495
Endereço eletrônico: www.abiaids.org.br
Assinam:
Grupo de Trabalho sobre Propriedade Intelectual / Rede Brasileira pela Integração dos Povos (GTPI/REBRIP)
Associação Brasileira Interdisciplinar de AIDS (ABIA)
Conectas Direitos Humanos
Gestos- Soropositividade, Comunicação e Gênero
Grupo de Apoio e Prevenção a AIDS (GAPA/RS)
Grupo de Apoio ePrevenção a AIDS (GAPA/SP)
Grupo de Incentivo a Vida (GIV/SP)
Grupo de Resistência Asa Branca (GRAB)
Grupo Pela Vidda/SP
Instituto de Defesa do Consumidor (IDEC)
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
OPEN LETTER OF SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF THAILAND
April 3, 2007
The Working Group on Intellectual Property (GTPI) from the Brazilian Network for the Integration of Peoples (REBRIP), together with the undersigned organizations, wish to express their solidarity with the people of Thailand, especially those who fight to guarantee the right to health and access to medicines.
Following the adoption of the TRIPS Agreement in the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the patent system began to have severe impacts on access to medicine in various nations throughout the world, particularly in developing countries.
Although large pharmaceutical companies have the legitimate right to compete in the world market, it is even more legitimate for a country to adopt policies that aim to increase its population’s access to medicines. It is up to all sovereign nations to avoid the abuses of the international patent system, as it functions today, since it currently favours only private interests.
It is in this context that we show our support for the Thai government in its decision to issue compulsory licenses for medicines that are essential in order to guarantee the lives and the health of the population, such as the antiretroviral drugs Efavirenz (Merck) and Kaletra (Abbott). Both are used to treat HIV and Aids.
Not only does the government of Thailand’s decision clearly contribute to the protection of public health, it is also in complete conformity with international trade rules, namely those of the TRIPS agreement and the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS agreement and Public Health of the WTO. Furthermore, it should be noted that developed countries, such as the United States and Canada, have used compulsory licensing on various occasions. Finally, this measure is also compliant with the International System of Human Rights and, therefore, must be supported by international organisations, such as the World Health Organisation and the World Trade Organisation, as well as the governments of developing countries, including Brazil.
It is unacceptable that the multinational pharmaceutical firm Abbott is attempting to influence a country’s health policies – in this case Thailand’s – through the use of unilateral means of retaliation such as withdrawing registration applications of its new drugs.
This type of attitude brings to light the abuses that arise when trade agreements, like the TRIPS Agreement, allow corporations to establish absolute monopolies over the production and distribution of a given product. It also demonstrates the limits of the current patent system, which focuses exclusively on maximization of profit, often at the expense of people’s lives.
It is time to unite all those who have always defended the use of TRIPS’ flexibilities, which can be invoked in the name of protecting public health, as is the case of compulsory licenses. Together, we must publicly denounce Abbott’s grave attitude that is harmful and disrespectful to the Thai people.
To provide unlimited support for Thailand on this issue means to support the urgent need of all countries to put health before the profits of multinational pharmaceutical companies. If your institution agrees with the content of this letter and accept to be included in this initiative, we ask to send an email back confirming the adhesion.
Associação Brasileira Interdisciplinar de AIDS (ABIA)
Conectas Direitos Humanos
Gestos- Soropositividade, Comunicação e Gênero
Grupo de Apoio e Prevenção a AIDS (GAPA/RS)
Grupo de Apoio ePrevenção a AIDS (GAPA/SP)
Grupo de Incentivo a Vida (GIV/SP)
Grupo de Resistência Asa Branca (GRAB)
Grupo Pela Vidda/SP
Instituto de Defesa do Consumidor (IDEC)
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
OPEN LETTER OF SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF THAILAND
April 3, 2007
The Working Group on Intellectual Property (GTPI) from the Brazilian Network for the Integration of Peoples (REBRIP), together with the undersigned organizations, wish to express their solidarity with the people of Thailand, especially those who fight to guarantee the right to health and access to medicines.
Following the adoption of the TRIPS Agreement in the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the patent system began to have severe impacts on access to medicine in various nations throughout the world, particularly in developing countries.
Although large pharmaceutical companies have the legitimate right to compete in the world market, it is even more legitimate for a country to adopt policies that aim to increase its population’s access to medicines. It is up to all sovereign nations to avoid the abuses of the international patent system, as it functions today, since it currently favours only private interests.
It is in this context that we show our support for the Thai government in its decision to issue compulsory licenses for medicines that are essential in order to guarantee the lives and the health of the population, such as the antiretroviral drugs Efavirenz (Merck) and Kaletra (Abbott). Both are used to treat HIV and Aids.
Not only does the government of Thailand’s decision clearly contribute to the protection of public health, it is also in complete conformity with international trade rules, namely those of the TRIPS agreement and the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS agreement and Public Health of the WTO. Furthermore, it should be noted that developed countries, such as the United States and Canada, have used compulsory licensing on various occasions. Finally, this measure is also compliant with the International System of Human Rights and, therefore, must be supported by international organisations, such as the World Health Organisation and the World Trade Organisation, as well as the governments of developing countries, including Brazil.
It is unacceptable that the multinational pharmaceutical firm Abbott is attempting to influence a country’s health policies – in this case Thailand’s – through the use of unilateral means of retaliation such as withdrawing registration applications of its new drugs.
This type of attitude brings to light the abuses that arise when trade agreements, like the TRIPS Agreement, allow corporations to establish absolute monopolies over the production and distribution of a given product. It also demonstrates the limits of the current patent system, which focuses exclusively on maximization of profit, often at the expense of people’s lives.
It is time to unite all those who have always defended the use of TRIPS’ flexibilities, which can be invoked in the name of protecting public health, as is the case of compulsory licenses. Together, we must publicly denounce Abbott’s grave attitude that is harmful and disrespectful to the Thai people.
To provide unlimited support for Thailand on this issue means to support the urgent need of all countries to put health before the profits of multinational pharmaceutical companies. If your institution agrees with the content of this letter and accept to be included in this initiative, we ask to send an email back confirming the adhesion.
Renata Reis
Associação Brasileira Interdisciplinar de AIDS
Av. Presidente Vargas, 446/13º andar - Centro - Rio de Janeiro
Tel. 21 22231040
Fax. 21 22538495
Endereço eletrônico: www.abiaids.org.br
Av. Presidente Vargas, 446/13º andar - Centro - Rio de Janeiro
Tel. 21 22231040
Fax. 21 22538495
Endereço eletrônico: www.abiaids.org.br
Institutions:
Working Group on Intellectual Property / The Brazilian Network for the Integration of Peoples (GTPI/REBRIP)
Associação Brasileira Interdisciplinar de AIDS (ABIA)
Conectas Direitos Humanos
Gestos- Soropositividade, Comunicação e Gênero
Grupo de Apoio e Prevenção a AIDS (GAPA/RS)
Grupo de Apoio ePrevenção a AIDS (GAPA/SP)
Grupo de Incentivo a Vida (GIV/SP)
Grupo de Resistência Asa Branca assina (GRAB)
Grupo Pela Vidda/SP
Instituto de Defesa do Consumidor (IDEC)
Associação Brasileira Interdisciplinar de AIDS (ABIA)
Conectas Direitos Humanos
Gestos- Soropositividade, Comunicação e Gênero
Grupo de Apoio e Prevenção a AIDS (GAPA/RS)
Grupo de Apoio ePrevenção a AIDS (GAPA/SP)
Grupo de Incentivo a Vida (GIV/SP)
Grupo de Resistência Asa Branca assina (GRAB)
Grupo Pela Vidda/SP
Instituto de Defesa do Consumidor (IDEC)
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