PHM-Exch> Indian civil society expresses concern over ‘Summits on Intellectual Property’

[PHM Global Secretariat]

***Pasted below is a copy of he letter sent by public interest organisations
to Shri. Anand Sharma, Hon’ble Minister of Commerce and Industry expressing
the concern over ‘Summits on Intellectual Property’ jointly organised by the
George Washington University of the United States, and the Confederation of
Indian Industry (CII) with funding from multinational pharmaceutical
companies, industry associations and corporate law firms. Public interest
organizations have urged the Government of India to take immediate steps to
put a stop to such industry sponsored lobbying with judges and policymakers.
*---------------------------------------------------------
To
Shri Anand Sharma,
Hon’ble Minister of Commerce and Industry
India

*Re: Summits on Intellectual Property by George Washington University India
Project and CII
and
Re: Ethics of interaction with Indian Judges, law and policy makers at these
summits
*

Hon’ble Minister,

We, the undersigned public interest organizations and individuals from
different fields, note with great concern meetings and "interactions" being
organised annually with Indian judges and policy makers on intellectual
property as part of so-called summits on intellectual property (IP Summits).


These IP summits in major cities of India are organised annually by the
India Project of the George Washington University of the United States, and
the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) with funding from multinational
pharmaceutical companies, industry associations and corporate law firms.
Even though George Washington University claims to organise and co-sponsor
with the Confederation of Indian Industry, industry sponsorship is
prominently displayed at the IP summit *(See annexure 1)*.

*India’s patent laws and access to essential medicines*

Sir, as you are aware, when India’s patent law was amended in 2005 (mandated
by the WTO TRIPS Agreement), the Indian Parliament included key public
health safeguards to ensure the continued manufacture and supply of safe,
effective and affordable Indian generic medicines.

The availability and affordability of generic medicines is crucial not only
for Indian patients but also for those in the rest of the developing world.
*Currently 92% of people living with HIV on treatment in low- and
middle-income countries use generic drugs mostly from India*. *Read
more<http://www.phmovement.org/en/node/2800>
**
*
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