PHA-Exchange> Fw: [health-vn] Government of Canada Launches New Web site on Access to Medicines for Developing Nations

[Claudio]

> Government of Canada Launches New Web site on Access to Medicines for 
> Developing
> Nations
>
> OTTAWA - The Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Health, today welcomed 
> the
> launch of a Web site and CD-ROM providing information on Canada's Access 
> to
> Medicines Regime. The Regime allows lower-cost versions of 
> patent-protected
> drugs to be exported to eligible countries that have little or no 
> pharmaceutical
> manufacturing capacity. The Web site and CD-ROM are designed to encourage
> generic drug manufacturers and eligible importing countries to use the 
> Regime.
>
> "The Government of Canada is committed to improving access to less 
> expensive
> medicines urgently needed to treat HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and 
> other
> diseases in developing and least-developed countries," Minister Clement 
> said.
>
> "This program can help developing countries respond to their public health
> problems by providing information about how the system works to eligible
> countries, as well as manufacturers."
>
> On August 30, 2003, the General Council of the World Trade Organization 
> (WTO)
> agreed to waive certain obligations in the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related
> Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights that were felt to be a barrier to 
> an
> effective response to public health problems, particularly in developing 
> or
> least-developed countries. These waivers allow exporting nations to issue
> compulsory licences to manufacturers wishing to make, sell and export 
> products
> that are still under domestic patent protection.
>
> To implement this decision, the Government of Canada created Canada's 
> Access to
> Medicines Regime. It is an interdepartmental initiative involving Health 
> Canada,
> Industry Canada, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, the Canadian
> International Development Agency, and Foreign Affairs and International 
> Trade.
> The Regime became operational in May 2005.
>
> The  Canada's Access to Medicines Regime Web site and CD-ROM offer 
> information
> on eligibility, requirements and procedures for importing countries;
> requirements, application process and forms for companies; the role of
> non-governmental organizations; and key documents. To obtain a copy of the
> CD-ROM version, please contact the Bureau of Policy, Sciences and 
> International
> Programs at 613-948-4623 or by e-mail at bpsip_info_bpspi at hc-sc.gc.ca