CNS coverage in lead up to and on-site from the XVIII International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2010)

Seven CNS writers (Anjali Singh, Bobby Ramakant, Chief Masimba Biriwasha, Jittima Jantanamalaka (daily FM Radio broadcasts 102.5), Medha Patkar, Shobha Shukla and Sugata Mukhopadhyay) wrote on issues around HIV and TB-HIV co-infection from their local contexts, in the lead up to and during the XVIII International AIDS Conference (IAC/ AIDS 2010) in Vienna, Austria. Bobby Ramakant was supported by the Stop TB Partnership and PANOS Global AIDS Programme and some of the articles below were published in PANOSCOPE - daily on-site newspaper published at IAC. Read more

Broadly speaking, CNS provided in-depth issue-focussed coverage on gender, home-based AIDS care, tuberculosis (TB) and TB-HIV co-infection, punitive laws and AIDS responses for transgender and men-who-have-sex-with-men (MSM), AIDS financing, free trade agreements (FTAs) and its impact on access to medicines, children and other related issues.

These articles were published in a diverse range of media outlets of many countries including: India, Pakistan, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Brunei Darussalam, Ghana, UAE, USA, New Zealand, Bangladesh, South Korea, among others. CNS also used social media extensively to disseminate articles through Twitter (3000+), Facebook (2500+), younews, reddit, digg, newstrust, HealthDev.net, AIDSspace, nowpublic and others. These articles were also disseminated via electronic discussion forums on specific issues like SEA-AIDS, Stop-TB, Lung Health, to name a few. A select number of articles below on TB were also published in the daily on-site newspaper at AIDS 2010 - PANOSCOPE.

A. Audio recordings of sessions CNS covered are available online here

B. Photographs from AIDS 2010 are available online here

C. THIRTY CNS articles from AIDS 2010 are as follows:

1- Islam and supportive HIV responses among MSM and trangender people

2- Despite high risk, HIV services don’t reach 9/10 MSM and transgender people
3- Spotlight on TB-HIV co-infection at AIDS 2010
4- Should tuberculosis (TB)-preventive therapy (IPT) be given to all?
5- Hepatitis C: Cure and control, right now!
6- Prevent TB: IPT works, IPT is safe
7- AIDS: Where Goes the Money?
8- TB Cough-in/Coffin March: TB on IAC agenda as never before
9- Stop TB Partnership signs MoU with UNAIDS to improve TB-HIV responses
10- TB-HIV co-infection: Giving ART and Treating TB slow HIV progression
11- Spain should increase investment in tuberculosis Research & Development
12- Punitive laws limit access to HIV services for MSM and transgender people
13- Make Art, Stop AIDS
14- Can TB patients say "Rights Here, Right Now"?
15- Fund the Global Fund to save lives from AIDS, TB, and Malaria: HERE I AM Ambassador
16- Developed countries stop using arm-twisting measures in FTA negotiations
17- Red Ribbon Express begins its Journey in Uttar Pradesh
18- Only Rights Can Stop The Wrongs
19- A new TB vaccine could be ready by 2020
20- Priority is to up collaborative TB-HIV activities
21- Criminalization of injecting drug users (IDU) fuels HIV epidemic
22- Rights Here, Right Now: Where Are They For The Gays?
23- A childhood free from tuberculosis (TB)
24- Turning the Page to a New Era in HIV Prevention Research
25- Another HIV+ woman commits suicide: Will XVIII IAC address stigma?
26- Red Ribbon Express: On track to good health
27- APCOM to tackle HIV among MSM and transgender people
28- Celebrating Diversity And Inclusiveness In The Age of Consent

29- James Connolly Committed to Accelerating the Development of new vaccines to prevent TB
30- Caregivers come with a cost

Developed countries stop using arm-twisting measures in FTAs

To listen to AUDIO recording, click here
In Guatemala the prices of some drugs went up by 845,000 times
The European Union’s actions are a direct threat to access to safe, effective and affordable medicines across the developing world. The European Union is demanding longer patents through free trade agreements (FTAs), longer than demanded by the World Trade Organization. Negotiations on drug price with over 90 low income countries become difficult with patents, for example, in countries like Guatemala the prices of some drugs went up by 845,000 times. Read more




European Commission (EC) is demanding such patents from 90 developing countries, including one of the poorest nations in the world. EC is also negotiating such an agreement with India, and want the negotiation to be done by end of this year. “We all know India produces 92% of generic medicines in the world, and what would happen to those countries that rely from imports from India, if India agrees to EC” wondered Sanya Reid Smith from Third World Network.

Anand Grover, UN Special Rapportuer on Right to Health said: “In the year 2000, the price of one year of ART was USD 15,000 that was brought down to USD 80 per year due to generic competition. The World Trade Organisation (WTO) through TRIPS mandated that every country should have patents for 20 years, and also gave the flexibility to developing countries. But through TRIPS Plus/ free trade agreements (FTAs) what developed countries like US, Japan or regions like EU are trying to do actually goes beyond TRIPS. For example, with TRIPS the patent term was for 20 years, they want patent term extension – so patent term will be for a longer duration than 20 years.”

“They (through FTAs) also want other provisions, linking patents with drug regulatory regimes (patent linkage), through data exclusivity. All these actually impact how generics come into the country – they delay the onset of generics in a country. Instead of allowing competition immediately after the patent term is over, they restrict generic competition. It is because of generic competition that we could have such reduced prices. All such measures are what is called as the ‘TRIPS Plus’ measures, attempt to delay the generic competition” said Anand Grover, UN Special Rapportuer on Right to Health.

“These agreements are thrust upon a country when they are not even supposed to have signed TRIPS. For example, countries from the Francophone Africa, they are among the least developed countries in the world, and they were supposed to sign TRIPS by only 2016, but you would not believe it that TRIPS agreement was actually complied with by large number of these countries even before India did. So they have so called ‘good laws’ for the “West” and very bad laws for their own countries” added Anand Grover.

ARM TWISTING MEASURES
“These negotiations aren’t done across the table in arms’ length negotiations. They are done through special conditions put by developed countries on developing countries, like trade barriers. These are the types of arm twisting measures developed countries resort. So any type of FTAs do not allow access to medicine at an affordable price, but delay generic competition and thereby promote monopoly. My report, which is the first report as UN Special Rapportuer, has highlighted this and I will call upon the developed countries not to use such arm twisting measures” said Anand Grover, who apart from being the UN Special Rapportuer is also a reputed lawyer of Supreme Court of India and heads Lawyers’ Collective.

Without the continued supply of safe, effective and affordable generic HIV medicines, the future of universal access looks bleak. Higher prices mean fewer people on ARVs; for those already on treatment newer treatment will not be available when resistance develops.

Bobby Ramakant – CNS
To listen to AUDIO recording, click here 


Published in: Thai-Indian News, Bangkok, Thailand

Citizen News Service (CNS), India/Thailand 
Elites TV News, USA
Modern Ghana News, Accra, Ghana

American Chronicle, USA 
Bihar and Jharkhand News Service (BJNS)
An Hour Ago, India
Comment Portal Indonesia, Indonesia 
New Post Online News, India
Now Public News
News Blaze News
Thetvrealist.com
Healthdev.net
Digg.com
Friendfeed.com

Indian Government continues secret FTA negotiations

Indian Government continues secret FTA negotiations
5th round of negotiations with EFTA to take place on 22-23 September in Delhi

22 September 2009, Delhi: India is secretly negotiating more than 15 economic agreements with other countries or blocks of countries. Despite strong protests against the controversial signing of an agreement on trade in goods between the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India (also called ASEAN-India FTA) last August, the Government of India continues negotiating more FTAs, including with developed countries.

India is presently negotiating one such FTAs with a group of four European countries called the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). The EFTA comprises the countries of Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstien. On 22nd and 23rd September 2009, the 5th round of negotiations for a FTA between India and EFTA is taking place in Delhi.

There is little public awareness on the content of the negotiations, despite these being underway since January 2008. Neither the Parliament nor State Governments have been informed of the contents or of the possible impacts of this FTA.

EFTA countries are highly specialised and their FTAs with other countries indicate the key sectors likely to be affected:

Finance: Because of the importance of the financial sector for its economy and intense corporate lobbying, Switzerland in particular pushes for the liberalisation of the financial and insurance sector. This would reduce India's flexibility to respond to financial crises, like the one we just experienced. Stiffer competition through further liberalisation of the banking sector will lead to smaller domestic banks being squeezed out of business. This is of significant concern as these banks give access to credit in rural areas.

Stronger Intellectual Property Protection: Members of EFTA, particularly Switzerland, echoing companies like Sandoz, Roche, Novartis have strong interests in far reaching Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) protection regulations, which includes data exclusivity and extended patent terms. Both of these go beyond India's commitments under the TRIPS Agreement and would delay the introduction of generic drugs. This would undermine India's public health policy and, since India is a major exporter of generic drugs, have a negative effect for people in need of these medicines around the world. Swiss biotech giants like Syngenta also have a vested interest in stronger IP protection over seeds and agrichemicals.

Fisheries: Both Norway and Iceland, with sizeable fishing industries, have interests in India's fish stock and liberalization of investments in this sector. This FTA would facilitate the entry of foreign fishing fleets into Indian waters with the same conditions as Indian fishing fleets. The Norwegian commercial fleet is the 6th largest in the world today, equipped with superior technology. This will mean that the Indian fishing community would have to compete with larger and more mechanized vessels for their livelihood.

The same would also apply for companies providing deep-sea petrol exploration, tourism, directly overstepping on the fishing community right to natural resources, by restricting their access to the seas. Conflicts with fishing communities have already taken place as a 10 km range around an exploring platform in Mumbai has been demarcated and is now inaccessible to fish workers. Norwegian companies specialized in superior technology and know-how in the area of deep-sea drilling and hydro-electric power plants, like Aker Kvaerner and NCC, are already operating in India and are interested in regulations facilitating their operations in the country.

Finally, the entry of highly organized retail chains facilitated by 'investments' provisions in the FTA would affect women fish sellers' capacity to access local markets, along with hawkers and small retailers.

Forum Against FTAs is a loose network of trade unions, people's movements, civil society organizations and academia working on issues related to agriculture, food security, livelihoods, fisheries, health, etc. The Forum is calling for greater transparency in FTA negotiations and for genuine public participation and consultation.

Published in:
Central Chronicle, Madhya Pradesh, India
Modern Ghana, Accra Ghana
Banderasnews, Pakistan
Citizen News Service (CNS)
Thai-Indian News, Thailand
Elites TV, USA
World News Network, USA
Media for Freedom, Nepal
News From Bangladesh, Bangladesh
Newstin, UK
Bihar and Jharkhand News, Bihar And Jharkhnad, India
Silobreaker.com
Freshplaza.com
Healthdev.net

Indian Government continues secret FTA negotiations

Indian Government continues secret FTA negotiations
5th round of negotiations with EFTA to take place on 22-23 September in Delhi

22 September 2009, Delhi: India is secretly negotiating more than 15 economic agreements with other countries or blocks of countries. Despite strong protests against the controversial signing of an agreement on trade in goods between the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and India (also called ASEAN-India FTA) last August, the Government of India continues negotiating more FTAs, including with developed countries.

India is presently negotiating one such FTAs with a group of four European countries called the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). The EFTA comprises the countries of Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstien. On 22nd and 23rd September 2009, the 5th round of negotiations for a FTA between India and EFTA is taking place in Delhi.

There is little public awareness on the content of the negotiations, despite these being underway since January 2008. Neither the Parliament nor State Governments have been informed of the contents or of the possible impacts of this FTA.

EFTA countries are highly specialised and their FTAs with other countries indicate the key sectors likely to be affected:

Finance: Because of the importance of the financial sector for its economy and intense corporate lobbying, Switzerland in particular pushes for the liberalisation of the financial and insurance sector. This would reduce India's flexibility to respond to financial crises, like the one we just experienced. Stiffer competition through further liberalisation of the banking sector will lead to smaller domestic banks being squeezed out of business. This is of significant concern as these banks give access to credit in rural areas.

Stronger Intellectual Property Protection: Members of EFTA, particularly Switzerland, echoing companies like Sandoz, Roche, Novartis have strong interests in far reaching Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) protection regulations, which includes data exclusivity and extended patent terms. Both of these go beyond India's commitments under the TRIPS Agreement and would delay the introduction of generic drugs. This would undermine India's public health policy and, since India is a major exporter of generic drugs, have a negative effect for people in need of these medicines around the world. Swiss biotech giants like Syngenta also have a vested interest in stronger IP protection over seeds and agrichemicals.

Fisheries: Both Norway and Iceland, with sizeable fishing industries, have interests in India's fish stock and liberalization of investments in this sector. This FTA would facilitate the entry of foreign fishing fleets into Indian waters with the same conditions as Indian fishing fleets. The Norwegian commercial fleet is the 6th largest in the world today, equipped with superior technology. This will mean that the Indian fishing community would have to compete with larger and more mechanized vessels for their livelihood.

The same would also apply for companies providing deep-sea petrol exploration, tourism, directly overstepping on the fishing community right to natural resources, by restricting their access to the seas. Conflicts with fishing communities have already taken place as a 10 km range around an exploring platform in Mumbai has been demarcated and is now inaccessible to fish workers. Norwegian companies specialized in superior technology and know-how in the area of deep-sea drilling and hydro-electric power plants, like Aker Kvaerner and NCC, are already operating in India and are interested in regulations facilitating their operations in the country.

Finally, the entry of highly organized retail chains facilitated by 'investments' provisions in the FTA would affect women fish sellers' capacity to access local markets, along with hawkers and small retailers.

Forum Against FTAs is a loose network of trade unions, people's movements, civil society organizations and academia working on issues related to agriculture, food security, livelihoods, fisheries, health, etc. The Forum is calling for greater transparency in FTA negotiations and for genuine public participation and consultation.

Published in:
Central Chronicle, Madhya Pradesh, India
Modern Ghana, Accra Ghana
Banderasnews, Pakistan
Citizen News Service (CNS)
Thai-Indian News, Thailand
Elites TV, USA
World News Network, USA
Media for Freedom, Nepal
News From Bangladesh, Bangladesh
Newstin, UK
Bihar and Jharkhand News, Bihar And Jharkhnad, India
Silobreaker.com
Freshplaza.com
Healthdev.net