US Trade Representative: Support the Use of Compulsory Licenses for Life-saving Drugs

To:  United States Trade Representative

We the undersigned insist that the US Trade Representative stop using punitive measures against countries that exercise their right to issue compulsory licenses for life-saving medications.
In China, thousands of people with HIV/AIDS are suffering from lack of treatment they need to survive. While the Chinese government provides free AIDS treatment to people with AIDS, many have developed resistance to the first line of AIDS medications, and second-line drugs are not included in the government program. People are dying.
The pharmaceutical companies that produce second-line treatment sell the medicines at prices far beyond the reach of rural people in China. Though the TRIPS provisions in the WTO allow developing countries to issue compulsory licenses and manufacture AIDS drugs domestically, China has so far not done so. Exercising this right is a necessary step for people living with HIV/AIDS in China and throughout the world to receive adequate treatment.
In the past, the U.S. has placed negative pressure on countries that issue compulsory licenses. Just last year, the U.S. Trade Representative under the Bush administration placed Thailand on a “Priority Watch List” because that country had issued compulsory licenses for AIDS drugs. President Obama has stated that he supports the rights of countries in the developing world to access quality generic medications under the WTO's TRIPS provisions.

We insist that U.S.T.R. Ron Kirk follow through on President Obama’s statements and end the practice of penalizing countries for invoking their rights under the WTO. It's the humane thing to do.

Sincerely,

The Undersigned

The US Trade Representative: Support the Use of Compulsory Licenses for Life-saving Drugs Petition to United States Trade Representative was created by and written by Asia Catalyst (catalystasia@gmail.com).  This petition is hosted here at www.PetitionOnline.com as a public service. There is no endorsement of this petition, express or implied, by Artifice, Inc. or our sponsors. For technical support please use our simple Petition Help form.