May 31, 2018
Intellectual property policy welcomed after nine years of development JOHANNESBURG, 31 MAY 2018 – Yesterday, after nine years of development, the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) finally published the Intellectual Property Policy of the Republic of South Africa, Phase I. The policy has been adopted by cabinet and as such represents official government policy, […]
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May 24, 2018
The Fix the Patent Laws Coalition (FTPL) welcomes the news today that the Cabinet of the Government of South Africa has approved the new Intellectual Property (IP) Policy. After nine years of policy development, two different draft policies and various rounds of public consultation, we now finally have an agreed-upon government policy that can […]
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May 17, 2018
It is with immense sadness that the Fix the Patent Laws (FTPL) Coalition shares the news of the passing of a dear friend and brave patient advocate, Sue Johnson. Sue was a mother of two children and grandmother to two girls. She was born in the UK and moved to South Africa in 1983, where […]
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November 9, 2017
On 6 November 2017, a group of US civil society organisations sent a letter urging the US government and industry not to interfere with South Africa’s efforts to promote access to lifesaving medicines. The group wrote they were “gravely concerned that the US government and industry representatives will try to undermine the South African government’s […]
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October 24, 2017
Finalise the draft policy and amend laws to save lives, activists tell dti 24-10-2017 PRETORIA – Today, more than 1,000 members of the Fix the Patent Laws Coalition (FTPL) will march to the Department of Trade and Industry (dti) in support of the government’s efforts to fix our patent laws and ensure everyone has access […]
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October 10, 2017
On October 10, 2017, the Union for Affordable Cancer Treatment (UACT) and 22 NGOs working on cancer in South Africa and members of the Cancer Alliance, submitted comments to the South Africa on the Draft South Africa IP Policy. The text of the submission can be read here and below.
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August 14, 2017
JOHANNESBURG, 14th AUGUST 2017 – On 8 August 2017, the Department of Trade and Industry published the Draft Intellectual Property Policy of the Republic of South Africa, Phase I, 2017. The Fix the Patent Laws Campaign (FTPL) welcomes its publication for public comment. The FTPL, a coalition of 34 patient advocacy groups, welcomes the clear […]
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July 20, 2017
On 7 June 2017, the FTPL coalition sent letters to all government ministers who form part of South Africa’s cabinet asking them to urgently finalise the draft intellectual property policy. The draft policy has been delayed in cabinet for more than 2 months, while people living in South Africa still struggle to access the medicines they […]
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June 13, 2017
JOHANNESBURG, 13 JUNE 2017: The Fix the Patent Laws coalition welcomes the Competition Commission’s announcement earlier today that they will investigate the pricing of several cancer medicines in South Africa. This is a major victory in our struggle to ensure that all people in South Africa can access the medicines they need to stay healthy […]
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Globally people are suffering and dying needlessly because governments are unable to afford to buy medicines to save their lives. It is time to Fix the Patent Laws to save our lives!
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New laws needed now to save lives: FTPL statement on new IP policy
Intellectual property policy welcomed after nine years of development JOHANNESBURG, 31 MAY 2018 – Yesterday, after nine years of development, the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) finally published the Intellectual Property Policy of the Republic of South Africa, Phase I. The policy has been adopted by cabinet and as such represents official government policy, […]
READ MORESouth African Cabinet Approves New Intellectual Property Policy
The Fix the Patent Laws Coalition (FTPL) welcomes the news today that the Cabinet of the Government of South Africa has approved the new Intellectual Property (IP) Policy. After nine years of policy development, two different draft policies and various rounds of public consultation, we now finally have an agreed-upon government policy that can […]
READ MOREIn loving memory of Sue Johnson (04/04/1954 – 16/05/2018)
It is with immense sadness that the Fix the Patent Laws (FTPL) Coalition shares the news of the passing of a dear friend and brave patient advocate, Sue Johnson. Sue was a mother of two children and grandmother to two girls. She was born in the UK and moved to South Africa in 1983, where […]
READ MOREUS civil society sends letter to US government in support of patent law reform in South Africa
On 6 November 2017, a group of US civil society organisations sent a letter urging the US government and industry not to interfere with South Africa’s efforts to promote access to lifesaving medicines. The group wrote they were “gravely concerned that the US government and industry representatives will try to undermine the South African government’s […]
READ MOREPatient groups march for access to medicines in South Africa
Finalise the draft policy and amend laws to save lives, activists tell dti 24-10-2017 PRETORIA – Today, more than 1,000 members of the Fix the Patent Laws Coalition (FTPL) will march to the Department of Trade and Industry (dti) in support of the government’s efforts to fix our patent laws and ensure everyone has access […]
READ MORESubmission by University of KwaZulu-Natal-Affiliated Academics on SA Draft Intellectual Property Policy
The Union for Affordable Cancer Treatment comments on SA’s Draft IP Policy
On October 10, 2017, the Union for Affordable Cancer Treatment (UACT) and 22 NGOs working on cancer in South Africa and members of the Cancer Alliance, submitted comments to the South Africa on the Draft South Africa IP Policy. The text of the submission can be read here and below.
READ MOREPatient groups welcome release of Draft Intellectual Property Policy
JOHANNESBURG, 14th AUGUST 2017 – On 8 August 2017, the Department of Trade and Industry published the Draft Intellectual Property Policy of the Republic of South Africa, Phase I, 2017. The Fix the Patent Laws Campaign (FTPL) welcomes its publication for public comment. The FTPL, a coalition of 34 patient advocacy groups, welcomes the clear […]
READ MORELetter to Cabinet Ministers: FTPL requests urgent finalisation of the draft intellectual property policy
On 7 June 2017, the FTPL coalition sent letters to all government ministers who form part of South Africa’s cabinet asking them to urgently finalise the draft intellectual property policy. The draft policy has been delayed in cabinet for more than 2 months, while people living in South Africa still struggle to access the medicines they […]
READ MORECoalition welcomes landmark Competition Commission probe into prices of cancer medicines
JOHANNESBURG, 13 JUNE 2017: The Fix the Patent Laws coalition welcomes the Competition Commission’s announcement earlier today that they will investigate the pricing of several cancer medicines in South Africa. This is a major victory in our struggle to ensure that all people in South Africa can access the medicines they need to stay healthy […]
READ MORE