Bangkok Declaration on compulsory licensing, innovation, and access to medicines for all

Bangkok, November 23, 2007

The International Conference on compulsory licensing: Innovation and access for all was held in Bangkok, Thailand on November 21- 23, 2007. The three days conference attracted more than 200 attendants from around the world and led to the Bangkok Declaration on compulsory licensing, innovation, and access to medicines for all. Read the Declaration below.

Bangkok Declarationon

on

compulsory licensing, innovation, and access to medicines for all.

From November 21 to 23, 2007: 200 of experts, social activists and patient network from all over the world have gathered in Bangkok, Thailand, to discuss compulsory licensing, innovation, and access to medicines for all. This is our declaration:

1. We recognized and applauded Thailand's leadership in the use of compulsory licensing to overcome legal monopolies as well as decisions by Brazil and Indonesia. Thailand's continued leadership on compulsory licensing is important, but so too will be the actions of other countries. Because of economies of scale, it is important that the potential market in developing countries for generic products is large enough market to collectively justify entry by generic suppliers.

2. To achieve our optimal goal on innovation and access to medicines for all, we have created a new global network on compulsory licensing, innovation and access for all (I +a4a). This network will link together patients, NGOs, academic / public health experts, government officials, and generic drug manufactures to find ways to ensure that patients have access to medicines with acceptable quality & price.

3. We confirm that compulsory licensing of patents is a legitimate, important and effective tool to protect consumer and public interests. Thus every country should have the rights to systematically and routinely use compulsory licensing and other means under TRIPS flexibility similarly to wealthy countries. Governments all over the world use compulsory licensing in a variety of contexts and in many different fields. The right to use compulsory licensing is incorporated in international law and precedent, including WTO’s TRIPS agreement and Doha Declaration.

4. Objections to the use of compulsory licensing in developing countries to ensure access to medicines for all patients are often based upon untruthful, misleading, unproven assertions and assumptions, and are designed to appeal to prejudices regarding the developing world.This should stop.

5. It is feasible to permit generic competition for products, dramatically expanding access to medicines, while ensuring sustainable sources of financing for needs driven research. Because we can promote both innovation and access, we must reject policies that force choices between the two, and accept the marginalization of low income and uninsured persons. We applaud the May 2007 World Health Assembly resolution WHA60.30 which calls upon the WHO to consider new mechanisms that de-link R&D incentives and financing systems from the prices of drugs. We support the calls for a new global treaty on medical R&D, that does not force countries to embrace monopolies and high drug prices to financing medical innovation, and which boosts investments in needs driven essential R&D, including R&D needed to address the special health problems of developing countries. Our cause is important for everyone. We are seeking global norms that ensure innovation and access for all. This is an achievable goal, if we collaborate and work together.

Bangkok, November 23, 2007

The International Conference on Compulsory Licensing Innovation and Access for All.

21-23 November 2007 Bangkok, Thailand

Organizers:

1.Health Consumer Protection Program (HCP), Chulalongkorn University
2.Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University

3.Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Ministry of Public Health

4.Health & Development Foundation (H&DF)

5.Drug Study Group (DSG)
6.AIDS Access Foundation

7.Thai Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (TNP+)

8.Social Pharmacy Research Unit, Chulalongkorn University

9.Pharmacy Network for Health Promotion (PNHP)

10.Foundation for Consumer (FFC)

Details about Compulsory Licensing

http://www.cl4life.net/