Common Men Allert
Dear friends across India,
In three days, our health could be sacrificed for a disastrous trade deal. But we can still stop our government signing away India’s right to make and sell cheap medicines.
The India-European Union trade talks are highly secretive, but a leaked draft shows that Commerce Minister Sharma could appease Europe's big pharma lobby and weaken our massive generic drugs industry. Sharma knows there will be a scandal if everyone realises he’s about to make vital medicines unaffordable, but hopes to sign on the dotted line before people notice.
Time is crucial -- a Parliamentary committee has just advised against signing the deal, and if it isn't done when Sharma is in Brussels early next week, it’ll likely have to wait until after the elections. Sign the petition calling on Sharma to stand up to big pharma, or see his pro-poor image shattered. When 50,000 of us sign, we will deliver these signatures into the meeting in Brussels. Sign now:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/eu_pharma_vs_indias_people/?tta
Generic drugs are a massive Indian success story. One generic cancer beating drug is sold in India for just a twelfth of the identical brand name version, and 80% of AIDS drugs used in developing countries come from India.
However, if the India-EU trade agreement overturns Indian patent rules, big European drug makers can sue our generics manufacturers and freeze the supply of cheap medicines. Our courts have seen off European challenges -- Sharma himself welcomed the recent Supreme Court decision to uphold generic cancer drug manufacture, so it would be crazy for him agree to change our intellectual property laws to suit Europeans.
Leaked documents show that India could lose its status as the pharmacy of the world because the EU insists on having clauses that blindly enforce the intellectual property rights of its big pharma companies. One generic cancer beating drug is sold in India for just a twelfth of the identical brand name version. Access to cheap medicine like this here is under threat from the deal, but things are even worse for poor countries which rely on Indian imports. 80% of AIDS drugs used in developing countries come from India -- a vital lifeline this deal could cut.
The trade deal would also lower tariffs for several EU agricultural exports that will flood the Indian market, threatening small farmers across the country. In just one example, the 3.2 million people employed in dairy farming will be competing with heavily subsidised European exports if the deal is signed. Shoppers will also face problems -- some types of cheese like Feta and Emmental could no longer be made in India, leaving no choice but to buy pricey imports.
Experts say that if the deal is not done when Minister Sharma goes to Brussels this week, there may be no deal at all since India will soon go into election mode. Sharma has a strong self image of caring for the poor in India, and has won awards for his support to poor people in Africa. Let’s remind him of his commitment and stop this deadly deal before it kills a single patient or pushes even one farmer off their land -- sign now and share this with everyone:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/eu_pharma_vs_indias_people/?tta
Avaaz members have come together to protect different parts of this great country before. We have won more information for poor people about their rights to healthcare. We have freed Indian workers trapped in the Middle East. Now we can protect everyone from dairy farmers to cancer patients in India, as well as people around the world who rely on Indian medicines.
With hope and determination,
Alex, Alaphia, Patricia, Luis, Emma, Marie, Ricken, Pascal and the entire team at Avaaz
MORE INFORMATION
EU-India Free Trade deal in final lap, diplomats say (EurActiv.com):
http://www.euractiv.com/global-europe/eu-india-free-trade-deal-final-l-news-517147
The Enforcement Provisions of the EU-India FTA: Implications for Access to Medicines (MSF):http://www.msfaccess.org/content/enforcement-provisions-eu-india-fta-implications-access-medicines  Uncertainty looms over India-EU Free Trade Agreement (The Tribune):http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130408/biz.htm#1
Anand Sharma hails SC verdict on Novartis (Business Standard):
http://businesstoday.intoday.in/story/anand-sharma-hails-sc-verdict-on-novartis/1/193749.html
Poll shadow looks over India-EU FTA (Times of India):
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Poll-shadow-looms-over-India-EU-FTA/articleshow/18393611.cms
Avaaz.org is a 20-million-person global campaign network that works to ensure that the views and values of the world's people shape global decision-making. ("Avaaz" means "voice" or "song" in many languages.) Avaaz members live in every nation of the world; our team is spread across 18 countries on 6 continents and operates in 17 languages. Learn about some of Avaaz's biggest campaigns here, or follow us on Facebook or Twitter.
You are getting this message because you signed "48 hours to defend India's health" on 2013-04-13 08:38:30 using the email address chandiajsingh@gmail.com.
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