PHM-Exch> Oxfam statement on medicines at WHA

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: Mohga Kamal-Yanni <mkamalyanni at oxfam.org.uk>


Thank you for this opportunity to raise Oxfam’s concerns on *access to
medicines.*

Oxfam campaigns to relieve poverty and reverse inequality. We strongly
commend WHO’s role in supporting countries to plan and implement policies
to make quality medicines and medical technologies available and affordable
to those who need them.

For example, the prequalification scheme has played a major role in
enhancing access to medicines for HIV, TB and malaria. This programme needs
to expand to include other medicines especially antibiotics, and medicines
for communicable and NCDs. However, policy, advocacy and normative work are
needed to provide the necessary foundations for such a scheme.

High prices of medicines continue to be a barrier to access to medicines in
developing countries. Lack of transparency on prices makes it difficult for
countries to negotiate best prices. Generic competition is a very effective
mechanism to achieve sustained low prices. The price of pyglated interferon
to treat hepatitis C in Egypt dropped only when generic competition entered
the market.

We appreciate WHO’s recognition of the role of civil society but prices
must not remain high unless and until civil society campaign.
Pharmaceutical companies must be made to recognise that the world cannot
continue to pay such high prices for new medicines. Countries need to be
supported in using TRIPS flexibilities to stimulate generic competition and
thus ensure sustained low prices.

To conclude, Oxfam believes that access to quality affordable medicines is
a prerequisite to achieve UHC, relieve poverty and reverse inequalities. We
call on Member States to ensure that the WHO has the resources needed to
deliver on its medicines core functions and on WHO to scale up its
leadership in addressing new incentives for R&D and of supporting countries
to implement the TRIPS flexibilities to curb the high prices of new
medicines.
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