[e-drug] International Seminar discusses impacts of medicines patents in the MERCOSUL

["Ivama, Dra. Adriana Mitsue (BRA)" <ivama@bra.ops-oms.org>]

Representatives of countries from the MERCOSUL, Bolivia and Chile will
gather today and tomorrow, at PAHO/WHO, in Brasilia, to analyze the
impact of patents protection on access to medicines in the region.

If on one hand patents are necessary to stimulate innovation, on the
other, patents of products utilized in the prevention and treatment of a
wide range of diseases can represent a serious problem to Public Health.
They can increase the costs of governmental programs of pharmaceutical
services, thus reducing the access of population to medicines. The
International Seminar "Analysis of the Impact of Medicines Patents
Protection in the MERCOSUL: Identification and Proposal of Strategic
Guidelines", promoted by the Ministry of Health of Brazil, PAHO/WHO and
the MERCOSUL Joint Parliamentary  Commission, is just another initiative
attempting to achieve the necessary balance between innovation and
access.

During the two days of the event, studies carried out in countries of
MERCOSUL and Associated States on the subject will be presented. The
goal is to identify and propose strategic guidelines for the development
of joint actions in the countries involved. Moreover, intellectual
property actual legislations will be analyzed, with a view to seek
viable alternatives for a better supply of patented medicines that are
considered essential for the population in the region. This meeting
counts on the participation of health, science and technology, external
commerce authorities, NGO´s representatives, as well as members of
Parliament, among other representatives.

As described in the program, the conference "Intellectual Property
Rights and Public Health", was presented by professor Jorge Bermudez,
Director of the Public Health National School Sergio Arouca
(ENSP/FIOCRUZ). In addition, three round-table meetings are expected,
namely:

-         "The Intellectual Property Right and Access to Medicines: The
Legislative Role"
-         "Intellectual Property Legislation in the Americas"
-         "Regional and Bilateral Agreements and Access to Medicines"


The presentations will be available at Mercosul’s website:
www.mercosulsaude.org

The program is available at:
http://www.opas.org.br/medicamentos/docs/MERCOSUL_patentes.pdf