On January 24, more than 100 North American (and global) organizations – including PAN members – joined together in signing an open letter to the Canadian, Mexican and U.S. Ministers involved in the NAFTA talks. We are urging that these negotiations do not undermine access to affordable medicine across the continent.
The letter came about after reports that changes to the intellectual property (IP) chapter are being considered that would protect the monopolies of the big pharmaceutical companies, squeezing out the opportunities for generic products to lower consumer prices. We are all extremely aware, and thankful, for how generics have played a critical role in responding to the AIDS epidemic, saving millions of lives and enabling people living with HIV to realize their potential.
The drug industry is also lobbying the U.S. to restrict government control on pricing and reimbursement, and to continue investor-state dispute settlement that allows unreviewable arbitration claims against public interest laws. Evidence shows that these would worsen access to treatment and health outcomes. Recently the U.S. delegation derailed and ultimately removed itself from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations, because it could not push through similar, universally unpopular, measures. So, in these trade talks, the fear is justified.
As it stands millions of Canadians cannot afford to properly fill and take their prescriptions due to cost and/or access to medical plans. In the years since NAFTA’s signing, corporations have radically increased medicine prices and have gamed existing intellectual property rules to maximize their profits. Any changes to NAFTA should rebalance the agreement’s terms in favor of competition and access to affordable healthcare. Whatever other goals the Canadian, Mexican and U.S. governments have for NAFTA’s renegotiations, it is critical to do no further harm with respect to the health and access to affordable medicines.