PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Medicines Update 19th TPP Round in Brunei

 Wednesday, 28 August 2013 (Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei) – The Malaysian AIDS Council and the Breast Cancer Welfare Association Malaysia are concerned about the negative implications on the Malaysian healthcare system of the intellectual property chapter of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), especially in relation to the TRIPS+ provisions.

There have been discussions here in Brunei about the need for a “golden balance” between the rights of pharmaceutical companies and that of the patients. This implies that the 1995 TRIPS agreement is not the “golden balance” and that negotiators are headed towards a TRIPS+ compromise.

We would like to reiterate that under the current twenty-year patent regime, there are existing problems in regard to access to affordable medicines.

As such, the “golden balance” should be the better utilisation of the TRIPS flexibilities in favour of public health and not new TRIPS+ provisions.

TRIPS+ provisions include data exclusivity, extended data exclusivity for biologics (cancer drugs), patent linkage, patent term extensions, patents for new uses and new methods, patents for surgical, diagnostic and therapeutic methods.

We stand in opposition to all and any TRIPS+ proposals in the TPP and we ask the Malaysian Government and negotiators to continue to stay strong in opposition and reject all and any TRIPS+ proposals and reiterate our strong position on the issue of access to affordable medicines.

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Malaysian AIDS Council

The Malaysian AIDS Council (MAC) was established in 1992 to serve as an umbrella organisation to support and coordinate the efforts of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working on HIV/AIDS issues in Malaysia. MAC works in close partnership with government agencies, the private sector and international organisations, to ensure a committed and effective NGO-led response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. In addition to providing nationwide coverage of HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services, MAC and its Partner Organisations serve as the common voice for communities most affected by HIV/AIDS in the country. Learn more at www.mac.org.my.