by The International People's Health Council

CUENCA (Ecuador)-- Delegates attending the second people’s health assembly today called for the total abolition of patents on essential medicines. “Patents are shortening the lives of people and is a curse for poor people” said Dr. Eduardo Espinoza, the former dean of University of El Salvador.

“There are two serious concerns about essential medicines. Firstly, it is about their availability. Secondly its affordability’ said Mr. Amitava Guha, a trade union leader from India. “The manifestations of the unfair patent regime are taking a heavy toll on poor people, especially those who are infected and affected with HIV / AIDS” said Mr. Guha, who currently heads the Federation of Medical Representatives Association of India.

The delegates at the second people’s health assembly (currently being held in Ecuador from 17-22 July) is galvanizing forces to fight the unfair patent regime. Popular campaigns are on the anvil.

“AIDS is taking away a generation in Africa in front of our eyes and we hold the transnational pharmaceutical companies for this mass murder” said a spokesperson for the PHA-2.

The assembly is developing strategies to put pressure on countries to be flexible in areas of parallel import and compulsory licensing so that domestic pharmaceutical companies are saved. “This will help to ensure the availability of generic medicines at cheaper prices” said Dr. Eduardo Espinoza.

Recent reports indicate that neo liberal policies take a heavy toll on poor people’s health. “Neo liberal policies are wrecking the lives of millions of poor people” said a PHA-2 spokesperson. “Kenya is under the grip of HIV/ AIDS. Four thousand trained nurses and thousands of health workers are unemployed because the government is not in a position to employ them owing to IMF conditionalities” said Ms. Mwajuma S. Masaiganah, Tanzania.

“The US government’s war in Afghanistan and Iraq has diverted our resources from education and health” said Mr. Jeff Conant, USA. “More and more people are living in streets and today it is practically a war on the poor in US” he said. The US delegate called for the immediate stop to war and occupation of Iraq. “The continuing war and the military expenditure have hit the social safety nets, education and health services” he said.