1. TRADE NEGOTIATION ON PHARMACETICALS PRESENTED BY CHOGO,MALESO (092SIS10).

2. INTRODUCTION.  The debate was on trade related intellectual property rights. (TRIPS).  Involve the impact of agreement on the efforts to improve public health in developing countries.  More than 50 countries did not confer patent protection on the pharmaceuticals.  WTO argue that all members should understand that the property rights are exclusive in all field.

3. Cont…….  The meeting focus more on TRIPS and health care system mostly in HIV/AIDS.  The first meeting on health care system and TRIPS was held in 1996 which constituted the major NGOs and public activists.  Aim was to increase access to HIV medicine in developing countries.

4. BACKGROUND.  Debate started in Republic of South Africa.  One of HIV /AIDS infected citizen faced highest price drug price.  Minister of health introduce amendment to South Africa Medicine and related substance control.  It requires ;minister to prescribe affordable medicine to protect health of public.

5. Cont……..  Transparency in pricing mechanism for AIDS drugs.  Pharmacist to tell the customers availability of cheap generic drugs.  Pharmacist to sell the drugs when doctor or patient adhered it.  Then drug company representative criticized the South Africa.  Write letter to USTR to take action against he law.

6. Cont……. The pharmaceuticals industries were worried about the medicine acts that overriding pharmaceutical patents. The industry leaders complain on the law that could destroy the industries investment and the whole market.

7. ANALYSIS. ANALYSIS. Parties involved ; CEOs who represented major US corporation,health activists and developing officials. Strategies used. -CEOs wanted TRIPs to get into Uruguay so develop networking with US senior government officials. -Establish the tone and secure resources to influence the government.

8. Cont….. - Form intellectual property rights committee to gain support. - Health activists organize meeting in Germany as the basis for coalition. - South Africa became focal point because of HIV/AIDS crisis, decide on the forum and agenda for the meeting. - Activists and developing officials brought case to WHO.

9. Cont…. Advantages : -involvement of WHO, NGOs and community were advantages for health activists -for South Africa to be focal point. -failure of the ministerial meeting was advantage to developing countries while other part was the disadvantages.

10. Cont…. Other strategies; -Activist block the start of new round of multilateral trade negotiation. -activist organize meeting in order to broaden support and weaken the potentials. -Continue involvement of other international organization to increase awareness. -NGOs made campaign to ensure drug accessibility.

11. Cont….. Threats. -Health activist block start of new multilateral trade negotiations. -US place South Africa in special watch list group. -Activists organize protest with special AIDS groups to pressurize US government.

12. CONCLUSION. It was tough debate but activist won The South Africa won the game through the use of tactic by reducing the price. As alternative the pharmaceutical industries could find another way rather than entering into losing game of IP protection. The industries could use participatory involvement of the individual country. They could donate drugs to WHO and focus on the weakness of public health infrastructures.