PHA-Exchange> JAA-Karnataka boycott's Novartis

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 from Gopal Dabade <drdabade at gmail.com> -----


            Janaarogya Andolana –Karnataka, (JAA-K) is the state chapter of
the Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (PHM- India http://phm-india.org consisting of 17
networking organizations). JAA-K has addressed issues such as access to
essential drugs, female foeticide, right to food and right to health care,
since its launch in the year 2000.

JAA-K at its meeting on 15th July 2007 after a detailed discussion passed a
resolution to boycott two products of Novartis, (the Swiss drug company) i.e.
Voveran and Calcium Sandoz. The following are some of the highlights of the
issues that were discussed.

Over the past year, media and other reports have highlighted Novartis'
actions in India and abroad in impeding the access of patients to essential
medicines. The highlight of Novartis' actions in India has been that the
company has challenged the decision of Chennai patent office that rejected
its claim for imatinib mesylate by filing a case in Chennai High Court. In
doing so it has taken the Indian government and cancer patients to court
over absolutely essential public health protections in India's patent law.
It is unfortunate that Novartis has taken such a decision and it is this
decision to not drop the case in spite of pressure from Indian and global
quarters and to actively promote policies that prevent people from accessing
medicines that has sparked JAA-K to take the ultimate decision of *"BOYCOTTING
OF TWO PRODUCTS OF NOVARTIS – VOVERAN & CALCIUM SANDOZ ".*

The company's claim for patent on the beta crystalline form of imanitib
mesylate is objectionable under India's patent law. Even after the patent
application was rejected, the company continues to pursue its attempt to get
a monopoly on this drug. In doing so, Novartis has done the unthinkable and
challenged the constitutional validity of an important public health
safeguard in Indian law which ensures access to essential medicines.
Hundreds and millions of people all over the world depend on drugs produced
by Indian generic companies and Novartis' case may have an impact on this.



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