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    Press Advisory -- Journalist teleconference

    For Immediate Release: December 14, 2004

    Poor Countries' Source of Affordable Indian Generic AIDS Drugs to Disappear

    Rising Drug Prices in India will Undermine HIV Treatment Scale-Up Efforts



    NOTE:

    • A transcript of the teleconference will be available on DECEMBER 16 2004. To receive a copy, send an email to asia@healthgap.org.
    • Also available is a Fact Sheet on the implications of proposed changes to the India Patent Act. Download Fact Sheet: PDF file | Word doc
    • To see a previous press release on this issue along with photos of a demonstration at the Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C. on December 13, click here

    WHEN: Wednesday, December 15, 2004, 12 noon EST

    SPEAKERS:

    • Anand P. Grover, Director, Lawyers Collective HIV/AIDS Unit, Mumbai, India
    • Ellen 't Hoen, Médecins Sans Frontières Access to Essential Medicines Campaign
    • Eric Goemaere, MD, Head of Mission, Médecins Sans Frontières, South Africa
    • Asia Russell (moderator), Director, International Advocacy, Health GAP

    HOW: Please R.S.V.P. by sending name, outlet, and contact information to Asia Russell: email asia@healthgap.org, Tel +1 (267) 475-2645. Each participating journalist will be called prior to the start of the teleconference. For journalists outside the U.S., please dial +1 (703) 375-5524 and enter passcode 1234# at the prompt. For journalists in the U.S. that prefer to dial in themselves, join the call by dialing +1 (877) 217-9993 and enter passcode 1234#.

    Issues to be addressed:

    * How generic competition in India has dramatically reduced prices and promoted access to affordable generic AIDS medicines in poor countries around the world, and how that access will be threatened by the Indian Government's plans to amend its national Patents Act in two weeks--by December 31, 2004.

    * The impact of the draft Patent Act amendments on access to affordable generic versions of newer HIV medicines patented since January 1, 1995, which are particularly important for people with HIV who cannot tolerate older, first line therapy, or who develop resistance to first line therapy.

    * Why the Indian Government is planning to amend its Patents Act in a manner that exceeds its obligations as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO)--even though international consensus states that developing countries should implement WTO rules governing intellectual property rights in a manner that protects public health and promotes access to medicines for all.

    * Why Indian civil society has objected to the Indian Government's draft Patents Act amendments, claiming medicines prices will rise in India and in importing countries if the amendments are passed, leaving poor people without medicines to treat HIV and other public health problems.

    #30#


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