Health
TRIPs and Healthcare: Rethinking the debate
IPN Opinion article
"Poor countries will not eradicate diseases by compulsory licensing certain pharmaceuticals. In fact the opposite is more likely because of the negative signal that such a decision would send to companies contemplating investment in knowledge-based industries. It would be a tragedy if long-term economic development and consequent improvements in the health of the poor were to be undermined by short-sighted policies aimed at placating narrow vested interests."
TRIPS and Healthcare: Rethinking the Debate
IPN Opinion article
In this paper, a group of experts from around the world contradict the claim that compulsory licensing of 'essential' medicines will benefit the world's poor. They point out that patents and other forms of intellectual property are an essential component in economic development. Interfering with intellectual property by compulsory licensing or price controls will undermine investments and cause more harm than good. They call instead for stronger protection of intellectual property globally.
Compulsory licensing no solution to health problems in poor countries, say experts from India, Argentina, Canada and South Africa.
IPN Press release
Aids has no cure - remember?
IPN Opinion article
It does seem paradoxical -- nay, tragic -- that the world may end up spending tens of billions of dollars annually to provide painful, only moderately successful treatment to prolong life, while not making millions of people healthy from curable diseases like malaria for only a few billion. In these days of emotional politics, perhaps the rich world will only spend money on diseases with which it has some familiarity.
Ending patents not the cure
IPN Opinion article
\"The problem with the ending of patent protection, though, is that in the long term we all lose, especially those in developing countries. And that will be the outcome if the pharmaceutical companies fail in their attempt starting on March 5 in Pretoria High Court to overturn legislation that allows patent-breaking anti-AIDS drugs to be imported from India...\"
ADPIC et Services MÈdicaux: Repenser le DÈbat
IPN Opinion article
French version of Trips and Healthcare: Rethinking the debate
A Rule-Based War: Mashelkar's Message: Patent, Publish and Prosper <br><i>an interview with Dr. Ramesh Mashelkar</i>
IPN Opinion article
"In his conversation with Madhu Kishwar, Dr Mashelkar opens up to questions that range from his personal life to his concerns about the future of Indian R&D. He demythifies concepts such as international patents and intellectual property, voices his concerns about the neglect of traditional knowledge systems in the developing world and projects, a scenario of vast opportunities for wealth generation; all this in a manner that is down-to-earth, enthusiastic and optimistic."
Ending patents not the cure
IPN Opinion article
\"The problem with the ending of patent protection, though, is that in the long term we all lose, especially those in developing countries. And that will be the outcome if the pharmaceutical companies fail in their attempt starting on March 5 in Pretoria High Court to overturn legislation that allows patent-breaking anti-AIDS drugs to be imported from India...\"
A Rule-Based War: Mashelkar's Message: Patent, Publish and Prosper <br><i>an interview with Dr. Ramesh Mashelkar</i>
IPN Opinion article
"In his conversation with Madhu Kishwar, Dr Mashelkar opens up to questions that range from his personal life to his concerns about the future of Indian R&D. He demythifies concepts such as international patents and intellectual property, voices his concerns about the neglect of traditional knowledge systems in the developing world and projects, a scenario of vast opportunities for wealth generation; all this in a manner that is down-to-earth, enthusiastic and optimistic."
