Nearly 2,000 people suffering from HIV will be rallying in the streets of New Delhi today, calling for harmful provisions that could affect access to essential affordable medicines to be removed from the trade deal. Call for early conclusion of European-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) has left people living with HIV and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) deeply concerned. MSF has warned that EU-India free trade deal will harm access to medicines and has urged India not to sign the agreement unless all concerns related to access to medicines are fully addressed.
The negotiations between the EU and India on a free trade and investment agreement have now reached an intense phase, with regular high level meetings to fast-track the conclusion of the agreement. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister, India, is in Germany and the EU-India FTA is at the top of the agenda. On April 14 – 15, 2013, Commerce Minister of India will be in Brussels to iron out the differences on the FTA.
“It is not true that all our concerns on access to medicines have been addressed. Enforcement and investment measures will put another nail in the coffin of access to the affordable, quality medicines MSF relies on to treat patients across the world. As treatment providers, MSF could even be at-risk of being embroiled in court cases for simply buying generic medicines over which pharmaceutical companies are fighting IP disputes. India should resist all demands that threaten public health in all their trade negotiations. Surrendering to European pressure so soon after the Supreme Court safeguarded India’s role as a safe haven for generic medicines would be like snatching defeat from the jaws of victory,” said Leena Menghaney, MSF Access Campaign.
EP News Bureau – Mumbai
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