Masked activists demonstrated against the free trade agreement between the EU and India
“It will block the production and export of generic medicines, a lifeline for millions of people”
It seamed to be in an episode of “The Walking dead”, but this time the scene wasn’t in the imaginary United States of the Tv series, but the European Parliament in Brussels. Dressed as zombies, wearing ripped and bloody suits representing European trade negotiators, the activists protested today to demand that the European Commission withdraw provisions in the free trade agreement (FTA) with India, that, they say, will harm people’s access to medicines across the developing world. This Civil society organizations say that they have learnt through leaked texts that the EC, in closed-door negotiations, is aggressively pushing for stronger industry control at the expense of public health, blocking the production and export of generic medicines from India.
“Eighty per cent of medicines used to treat HIV in the developing world come from India, and if the EU succeeds in retaining the harmful provisions that remain in the agreement, it would cut off this lifeline supply for millions of people,” said Leïla Bodeux of Oxfam.
“This attack on the health of the world’s poorest is seriously concerning”, said Carl Schlyter, MEP for the Green Party. Schlyter added: “The EC cannot claim it supports access to medicines and is concerned about the lives of people in developing countries, and in the same breath be pushing harsh provisions around intellectual property enforcement on India.” At the demonstration participated also activists from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the Stop AIDS Campaign, Health Action International (HAI), European Act-Up Paris.
To know more
– Read the press release of the activists
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