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Doctors Without Borders calls for SA to override patent on key HIV medicine after widespread stock out problem

October 29, 2015

This statement was originally published on 26 October 2015 at https://www.msf.org.za/msf-publications/south-africa-should-override-patent-on-key-hiv-medicine-after-widespread-stock-out Patients sent home without drugs while pharmaceutical company AbbVie refuses to license patent to generic companies Johannesburg — After six months of persistent supply problems with the key HIV medicine lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r), the international medical humanitarian organisation Doctors Without Borders (MSF) urged the South […]

FTPL coalition members make submissions on Copyright Amendment Bill

October 23, 2015

17 September 2015 The Copyright Amendment Bill 2015[1] was recently referred to parliament for review, following its approval by Cabinet. The Bill was drafted by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to reform the Copyright Act 98 of 1978[2]. The Copyright Act governs the protection of copyright which – like patents – is a […]

Fix the Patent Laws Campaign featured in Foreign Affairs

On 18 October, Foreign Affairs featured a profile on the Fix the Patent Laws campaign authored by Fran Quigley. Below is an excerpt from the article: Back in Johannesburg, Mary-Jane Matsolo is wrapping up the training. It has been a whirlwind tour through the TRIPS agreement, South Africa’s problems, and the legal models in India. “Are we […]

DON’T TRADE AWAY OUR HEALTH – PHARMA ATTEMPTS TO UNDERMINE SOUTH AFRICAN PATENT LAW REFORM & ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE MEDICINES

August 13, 2015

Johannesburg/New York, August 13, 2015: A submission to the United States Government shows South Africa is facing pressure from the pharmaceutical industry to backtrack on intellectual property (IP) law reform that aims to improve access to medicines in exchange for eligibility for ongoing inclusion in the United States’ African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). The […]

Business Day Editorial: Patents threaten access to vital medicine

August 5, 2015

This editorial was originally published in the Business Day on 4 August 2015. The original editorial can be accessed at: http://www.bdlive.co.za/opinion/2015/08/04/patents-threaten-access-to-vital-medicine ONE of the cornerstones of an effective intellectual property (IP) system is the examination of patent applications. After all, before approving an application, the “invention” in question must meet the legal criteria for what […]

Parliament publishes Copyright Amendment Bill and revised Protection and Promotion of Investment Bill

July 30, 2015

Copyright Amendment Bill, 2015 On 28 July 2015, Parliament published the Copyright Amendment Bill for public comment. The Bill, which will amend the Copyright Act 98 of 1978, can be found online here. Submissions on the Bill can be emailed to Meshendri Padayachy at MPadayachy@thdti.gov.za until Thursday, 27 August 2015. Following detailed review of the Bill, the Fix the […]

Catholic bishops in South Africa join the campaign for affordable medicine for the poor

July 13, 2015

This statement was originally released on 6 July 2015 The Justice and Peace Commission for the Southern African Catholic Bishops’ Conference (SACBC) has raised serious concerns about patent laws in South Africa that severely diminish the financial capacity of the health department to purchase new and more effective drugs for the public health care. Says […]

Doctors Without Borders responds to the EU’s submission on SA’s Draft National IP Policy

July 3, 2015

In September 2013, South Africa’s Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) released a Draft National Policy on Intellectual Property for public comment. During the public comment period, the DTI received more than 100 submissions on the IP policy. [1] The submissions received by the DTI – which were leaked online – can be viewed at sourceafrica.net. The submissions […]

LEADING HEALTH ORGANISATIONS JOIN FIGHT FOR AFFORDABLE MEDICINES

June 15, 2015

Expanded coalition calls for urgent approval of National Policy on Intellectual Property JOHANNESBURG, 2nd JUNE 2015: Today, patient groups and other leading health organisations in South Africa have joined the Fix the Patent Laws campaign to push for reform of the country’s current patent laws that severely restrict access to affordable medicines for all people living […]

TAC WELCOME PEOPLE LIVING WITH CANCER JOINING THE FIX THE PATENT LAWS CAMPAIGN

THURSDAY 5th FEBRUARY, CAPE TOWN: Yesterday, on World Cancer Day , People Living With Cancer – a South African support group representing thousands of patients – publically signed on to support the Fix the Patent Laws campaign. The campaign aims to ensure access to affordable medicines for all people living in South Africa including those […]