Letter from Five Members of the European Parliament to Novartis CEO Daniel Vasella
Dr. Daniel Vasella
Novartis International AG
Schwarzwaldallee 215
4002
Basel
Switzerland
9th February 2007
Dear Dr Vasella,
We are writing to you concerning the legal action being taken by your
company against the Indian Government and its patent laws.
On 23rd January we held a hearing on this issue in the European Parliament
in Brussels. Present at the meeting were representatives of your company
and of the humanitarian organisations Médecins Sans Frontières and Oxfam.
The hearing gave us the opportunity to hear and to understand both sides
of the argument.
As representatives of European citizens, we want to express our grave
concerns regarding your action against a government that chooses, in
compliance with the Doha Declaration on TRIPS and Public Health, to
interpret and implement the TRIPS Agreement “in a manner supportive of
[its] right to protect public health and, in particular, to promote access
to medicines for all”.
On September 29th 2005 the European Parliament adopted a Resolution which
stressed the crucial role of India in providing essential medicines for
the developing world, and called “on the EU to support India in further
implementing its intellectual property laws in a manner that will avoid
barriers to the production, marketing and export of essential medicines”.
The Indian parliament has thereby adopted a pro-public health patent law,
which is crucial since India is one of the major exporters of affordable
medicines to developing countries. Section 3(d) of the Indian Patent Acts,
which your company is challenging, was deliberately designed to enable a
patent system that allows the greatest access to medicines.
We are aware that if your legal action is successful, the consequences
will be significant not only for India, but globally . We are also aware
that around 10000 patent applications, including for AIDS drugs and other
essential medicines are currently awaiting examination by the Indian
Patent offices. Whether patents on these medicines will be granted may
depend on the outcome of this case. If your company is successful India
may cease to be able to export affordable medicines to the developing
world.
We acknowledge the importance of patent rights. However, they must not go
against the interest of millions of people who desperately need access to
cheaper drugs.
For the sake of the public interest, we request you to withdraw your case
against the Indian Government.
Anne FERREIRA
Caroline LUCAS
Dorette CORBEY
Max van den BERG
Carl SCHLYTER
