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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March 16, 2017
On 14 March 2017, Checkpoint on eNCA aired a documentary exploring the access challenges faced by women in South Africa seeking trastuzumab – a WHO recommended essential medicine for HER2+ breast cancer. The documentary features the story of Tobeka Daki, in whose memory the Tobeka Daki Campaign for Access to Trastuzumab was launched. Watch the documentary […]
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March 8, 2017
This letter was issued by the Tobeka Daki Campaign for Access to Trastuzumab to the Human Rights Council today – on International Women’s Day – as they convene a panel discussion on access to medicines in the context of the right to health. The letter can be accessed here. —— Dear High Commissioner Zeid Ra’ad […]
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February 7, 2017
ACTIVISTS AROUND THE WORLD MARCH #ForTobeka – Demonstrations held at Roche & pharma associations in South Africa, Malaysia, UK, France, Zambia, Brazil, US – 108 organisations endorse a letter to Roche Tuesday, 7th February 2017 – Swiss multinational company Roche faced […]
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December 15, 2016
On the heels of the statement by South Africa earlier this week on patents and health, the Fix the Patent Laws campaign is again very encouraged to see the second statement from the South African government, made on 14 December 2016. This time, a comprehensive account of South Africa’s experience related to access to medicines […]
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December 14, 2016
The Fix the Patent Laws Campaign is heartened by the statement delivered yesterday, 13 December 2016, at the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Standing Committee on the Law of Patents (SCP) during discussions on patents and health. We remind the South African government that it is crucial to turn these words into actions by reforming […]
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November 15, 2016
It is with great sadness that the Fix the Patent Laws (FTPL) coalition shares news of Tobeka Daki’s death. Tobeka, was a single mother from Mdantsane in the Eastern Cape, a daughter, a friend, a woman living with HER2 positive breast cancer, a support group member and an advocate for equal and affordable access to […]
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October 25, 2016
The Cancer Alliance is a national alliance of 18 cancer organisations in South Africa that undertake advocacy on issues related to cancer prevention, detection and treatment. The Cancer Alliance is committed to the achievement of equitable access to cancer treatment and services for all people living in South Africa. The Cancer Alliance is seeking a […]
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September 27, 2016
– 1000 activists march to DTI to demand urgent reform of outdated patent laws – Fix the Patent Laws campaign now comprises 31 patient groups – New medicine report shows how patents stop people accessing nine important medicines 27 September 2016 – PRETORIA: Today, more than 1000 activists from the Fix the Patent Laws campaign […]
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