[e-drug] SA opposition agrees on PI,CL

[andy@healthlink.org.za]

E-DRUG: SA opposition agrees on PI,CL
-------------------------------------
[crossposted from DRUGINFO, our South African "E-drug",
with thanks. Amazing changes in 2001 compared to 1998! NN]
 
Hi all

This interpretation by Zackie Achmat of TAC has been posted to 
their list and to an international IP list. The statement by the 
Democratic Alliance is indeed a dramatic change. Pressure is 
certianly building before the March 5 hearings in the Pretoria High 
Court.

regards
Andy
~~~~~~~
------- Forwarded message follows -------
From:           	Zackie Achmat <zackie@pixie.co.za>
Subject:        	Democratic Alliance in Dramatic about turn

Dear All

Below is an extract from the speech of the Opposition Democratic 
Alliance leader -- Tony Leon today.  Yesterday's march seems to 
have had clear impact in some quarters. The DA is traditonally pro-
business, pro-drug company and profoundly Thatcherite. They 
supported the PMA during the hearings on the Medicines Act and 
Kobus Gous (formerly National Party) and Mike Ellis (formerly DP) 
gave statements confirming the PMA version of events in 
Parliament.  

Now, the drug companies don't have a defence even in this party.  
TAC will release an official statement tomorrow.  

Regards

Zackie

-----

Tony Leon 13 February 2001 "While the government must shoulder 
the blame for the terrible mishandling of AIDS, my party also 
wishes to acknowledge some responsibility in this regard.  The 
terrible human cost of AIDS outweighs a legitimate attachment to 
narrow definitions of intellectual property rights.  Therefore, the 
DA's historic opposition to legislation that would allow parallel 
imports and compulsory licensing for HIV/AIDS drugs will cease 
from today, conditional on government declaring AIDS to be a 
national emergency in terms of the TRIPS accord and without 
compromising medicines control."  

------- End of forwarded message -------
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Andy Gray
Discipline Chair: Pharmacy Practice
School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology
University of Durban-Westville
email: andy@healthlink.org.za
Tel: +27 31 2044358 Fax: +27 31 2044792
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