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medicines

Trade and patent changes could increase healthcare costs by $100bn, CPHI annual report warns
9-Oct-2018 European Pharmaceutical Manufacturer
Patients may need to wait an extra five or 10 years to access generic medicines, which could raise healthcare costs by as $100 billion over the next five years, according to the latest CPhI annual report
Canada ’caved’ on intellectual property provisions in USMCA trade deal, experts say
5-Oct-2018 Financial Post
Experts are fuming, saying USMCA will hamper Canada’s innovation economy and hike costs to the health care system over patented drugs.
Extended monopolies on biologic drugs – A warning to developing countries
12-Sep-2018 IP Watch
The United States has throughout history been the principal demandeur of maximalist intellectual property, backed by a powerful pharmaceutical lobby.
Biologic drugs would get 10 years of data protection under revised US-Mexico trade deal
28-Aug-2018 Pharmaceutical Commerce
The 10-year span is more than what had existed before but the biopharma industry has long argued for the same 12-year exclusivity that exists for biologics within the US market.
Dozens of grassroots groups want changes to ‘secret’ trade pact
2-Aug-2018 Asia Times
While some states in East and Southeast Asia favor the 16-nation RCEP trade deal, many civil society groups say it lacks transparency and public participation.
Trade deals putting health at risk
20-Jul-2018 Bangkok Post
A leaked draft of the negotiating text has revealed some proposed harmful intellectual property provisions that could undermine access to price-lowering, generic medicines, and thus, life-saving treatment to millions of people.
The myth behind health and trade agreements – Q&A with Othoman Mellouk
20-Jun-2018 IP Watch
Dr Othoman Mellouk is a Moroccan treatment advocate who has been working on intellectual property and access to medicines for more than a decade.
Tough talk over medicine and cheese as Australia and Europe seek a $37b trade deal
19-Jun-2018 Sydney Morning Herald
Trade Minister Steven Ciobo has promised to take a hard line with Europe on the question of cheap medicines and his counterpart Cecilia Malmström foresees “difficult” negotiations over Australian producers using European names such as "parmesan".
Reject Trump’s threat to affordable medicines through TPP
14-May-2018 Scoop World
Government should reject Trump’s threat to affordable medicines through TPP and other trade deals.
Ukraine eyes patent law reform after civil society push on medicines access
2-May-2018 IP Watch
Ukrainian lawmakers are poised to approve sweeping patent reform legislation, driven in large part by a push by patients’ groups for better access to affordable medicines and healthcare.
Drug patent extensions under CETA could cost feds $270M a year: PBO
27-Apr-2018 iPolitics
Extended patent protections under Canada’s free trade deal with the European Union could cost the federal government some $270 million a year, according to a new report by the Parliamentary Budget Officer.
Dozens of NGOs oppose proposed EU watch list on IP rights
18-Apr-2018 IP Watch
A wide-ranging list of international nongovernmental organisations issued a letter to European Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström opposing a proposal to establish a “watch list” of countries deemed failing to protect European intellectual property.
Costly medicines and pus in milk: a Brexit trade deal that’ll make you sick
12-Apr-2018 The Guardian
The US trade barriers list shows that Liam Fox could let more than just chlorinated chicken into the UK. The public deserve to know the details
MSF statement on resumption of EU-India FTA negotiations
11-Apr-2018 MSF Access Campaign
Officials from the European Union (EU) and India are expected to meet in Brussels on April 12th to resume technical talks on the long-stalled EU-India free trade agreement (FTA). A leaked draft of the agreement, which has been under discussion since 2007, contains proposals from the EU that push for intellectual property (IP) provisions in the FTA that could jeopardize access to affordable medicines.
Renegotiating NAFTA: Threats to affordable medicines
29-Mar-2018 Public Citizen
NAFTA was the first “trade” agreement that included new monopoly powers for Big Pharma companies.
America messed up the idea of free trade
22-Mar-2018 Quartz
US-led multilateral trade agreements have forced poorer foreign countries to honor patents in exchange for the benefits of bringing multi-national corporations—and their factory jobs—abroad.
Tokyo’s drift towards intellectual property crusader
12-Feb-2018 East Asia Forum
Japan’s role in RCEP negotiations appears to have been shaped by its participation in the TPP. Japan is now championing for expanded intellectual property right provisions which may block access to affordable medicines
NAFTA will undermine health unless Canada resists monopolies on medicines
6-Feb-2018 Toronto Star
Time and again, Canadians reaffirm their belief in the basic principle of equitable access to health care for all. But the spirit of this very Canadian principle remains in peril as NAFTA negotiations forge ahead.
Delhi’s RCEP talks on intellectual property shouldn’t forget India’s role as ‘Pharmacy of the World’
5-Feb-2018 The Wire
India must resist pressure from Japan and South Korea in RCEP for the elevated levels of intellectual property provisions and make sure the deal doesn’t limit the production of life-saving generic drugs in India and for many other developing countries of the world.
Over 100 organizations concerned with health sign open letter to Canadian, Mexican and US ministers of health and trade
1-Feb-2018 Pharmacist
AIDS, cancer, religious-based, teacher, and retiree advocacy groups were among the more than 100 organizations that recently signed a letter warning health and trade ministers of the United States, Canada, and Mexico not to undermine NAFTA’s access to affordable medicines.