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Trade justice - global patent rules and public health
Scifest special
The World Trade Organisation is in the process of implementing and discussing possible clarifications to the TRIPS agreement requiring all countries to respect patent laws - part of a broader aim to bring everyone into a common economic system from which all may benefit. Because of extreme disparities of wealth in the world at present, it is necessary to study this carefully and understand its full implications.
In 2001 Oxfam wrote a report on patents and access to essential medicines and raised the important issue that stronger global patent rules will increase the costs of vital medicines, an example being excessively priced patented HIV/AIDS medicines. The counter claim to this is that strong patent
laws will stimulate research and innovation, which in turn should increase the availability of new medicines and other socially useful technologies.
What is the ordinary citizen to believe? Sir John, the leader of the UK contribution to the Human Genome Project has himself become increasingly interested in the ethical applications of science and serves on the Human Genetics Commission which advises
the UK government. In this lecture he will draw on the views and experiences of members if Oxfam to help us all gain a better understanding of these issues.
STOP PRESS!
Caroline Sande-Mukulira, Oxfam GB's Regional Programme Manager, and Dan Mullins,
their HIV/AIDS coordinator, will come to Grahamstown. Caroline will share the podium with
John Sulston in his lecture at the Sasol Scifest. Caroline's input will center on the core message that existing trade relations between the South and the North are not "natural" but reflect political power relationships - which can be changed by people in the North as well as in the South. But to achieve this, action is necessary - public debate, lobbying, and global campaigning.
For details on this lecture please visit the Sasol Scifest web-site at http://www.scifest.org.za
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