PHM-Exch> Petition SA govt to demand equitable access to COVID-19 medicines

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: <dlegge at phmovement.org>



*From:* Prasanna S Saligram <prasanna at phmovement.org>

Please find below the petition to South African government demanding
equitable access to Covid-19 medicines. Please sign and endorse and thereby
add your voice to this petition.



*Prasanna S Saligram*
Equitable Access to Essential Health Technologies in the context of COVID
19 (EACT)

India



*From:* Umunyana Rugege <rugege at section27.org.za>


<Candice.Sehoma at joburg.msf.org>*Please sign the petition and share widely
with your networks*!



It’s critical that there is equitable access to a COVID-19 vaccine as soon
as it becomes available. Having seen how *patents* can act as barriers to
access to medicines in the past, we need to make sure everyone everywhere
can access effective COVID-19 medicines – and that requires intellectual
property reform.



Fix The Patent Laws Coalition
<https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fixthepatentlaws.org%2F&data=04%7C01%7Cb.baker%40northeastern.edu%7Cf9f24aaab7664a46ce7208d87cc1a04d%7Ca8eec281aaa34daeac9b9a398b9215e7%7C0%7C0%7C637396518357011518%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C2000&sdata=bcHRv1LV%2FuCJ0KCc9toArBrlRHcrXD34hAwjwVCytFs%3D&reserved=0>,
a collective of over 40 organisations, has launched a *petition*
<https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fawethu.amandla.mobi%2Fp%2FFixThePatentLawsC19&data=04%7C01%7Cb.baker%40northeastern.edu%7Cf9f24aaab7664a46ce7208d87cc1a04d%7Ca8eec281aaa34daeac9b9a398b9215e7%7C0%7C0%7C637396518357011518%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C2000&sdata=v7BhtdRHEtvunUk65wkDZdpmjgKsHwMeV95ui0ccx7w%3D&reserved=0>
 calling on the South African government to take the following steps to
help fight COVID-19:



   - Put a temporary moratorium on granting patents on COVID-19 related
   products as they are proven effective.
   - Automatic compulsory licensing of COVID-19 related health products
   with existing or pending patents.
   - Fix the Patent Laws urgently to ensure the use of all legal
   flexibilities to improve access to health products.



We are also calling on countries to support the progressive proposal made
by the South African and Indian governments for a temporary patent waiver
on COVID-19 medical products. Already developed countries are aiming to
block
<https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftimesofindia.indiatimes.com%2Findia%2Fus-eu-block-indias-fight-for-ipr-waiver-for-covid-drugs%2Farticleshow%2F78727920.cms%3FUTM_Source%3DGoogle_Newsstand%26UTM_Campaign%3DRSS_Feed%26UTM_Medium%3DReferral&data=04%7C01%7Cb.baker%40northeastern.edu%7Cf9f24aaab7664a46ce7208d87cc1a04d%7Ca8eec281aaa34daeac9b9a398b9215e7%7C0%7C0%7C637396518357021513%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C2000&sdata=28IowCSmi%2B0V2e%2Fe2juzz5tC%2B0mgSbLkBTbZpy32Mk8%3D&reserved=0>
 the call to suspend the World Trade Organisation rules that prop up big
pharma monopolies.



We cannot allow profits and nationalism to triumph over the needs of people
in South Africa, and across the globe. *Over one hundred people have signed
the petition*, but it is vital that we stand united and continue our demand
for a #PeoplesVaccine and equitable access to medicines. And for this to
happen, we need to #FixThePatentLaws.



*Sign the petition here:*

https://awethu.amandla.mobi/p/FixThePatentLawsC19
<https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fawethu.amandla.mobi%2Fp%2FFixThePatentLawsC19&data=04%7C01%7Cb.baker%40northeastern.edu%7Cf9f24aaab7664a46ce7208d87cc1a04d%7Ca8eec281aaa34daeac9b9a398b9215e7%7C0%7C0%7C637396518357021513%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C2000&sdata=2RL%2BPMhr09f5zUYDfJwPlgxghMN8kM8BsUSBKQmz6ok%3D&reserved=0>



You can read the FTPL’s *statement* in support of the temporary waiver of
all patents on products needed to test, treat or vaccinate against COVID-19
here
<https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fixthepatentlaws.org%2Ffix-the-patent-laws-coalition-supports-south-africa-and-indias-proposal-to-facilitate-access-to-covid-19-vaccines%2F&data=04%7C01%7Cb.baker%40northeastern.edu%7Cf9f24aaab7664a46ce7208d87cc1a04d%7Ca8eec281aaa34daeac9b9a398b9215e7%7C0%7C0%7C637396518357031509%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C2000&sdata=XrdPZA4zpIS4Sy9ztMd1MehBA4i2HFkUdcmL1LFwF4g%3D&reserved=0>
.



Please share this with your networks.
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