Fix the Patent Laws (FTPL) leas partners Medecines Sans Frontiers held their first training workshop and civil society consulting meeting on July 24th-25th at the offices of Section 27 in Johannesburg.
The training workshop brought together civil society organisations and stakeholders to learn about patent law reform. South African urgently needs to reform patent laws for medicines and technology so that patients can access treatment.
The participatory workshop brought an innovative group from different disciplines: law, activism, journalism and social media. Engaging the attendees in each section of training and, finding out from each what medications or devices would they like to see patent law reformed on.
What does this mean to the average person? South Africa’s patent office has been ever greening patents on essential drugs. Meaning small changes are made and the patents reapplied for another 20 years. This means that drug company owning the patent get to keep prices high due to exclusivity. The consumer ultimately pays the price due to unaffordability and lack of a generic version. The price paid by patients is disability, suffering and death.
There are many aspects to fixing the patent laws and the most important and first step is public awareness. Knowing what and how this problem affects the patients suffering will help us to reform the patent laws.
The laws need to be changed and the path is clear yet it is evident that the process is going to take time. It has worked in India and the same fight and reform is needed here. Evidently, patent holders don’t want profits cut and will place a stiff fight. Yet, the need is great enough for those that will greatly welcome the change.
Thanks MSF, TAC and Section 27 for making this possible. Join the movement at www.fixthepatentlaws.org
Fix the Patent Laws (FTPL) leas partners Medecines Sans Frontiers held their first training workshop and civil society consulting meeting on July 24th-25th at the offices of Section 27 in Johannesburg.
The training workshop brought together civil society organisations and stakeholders to learn about patent law reform. South African urgently needs to reform patent laws for medicines and technology so that patients can access treatment.
The participatory workshop brought an innovative group from different disciplines: law, activism, journalism and social media. Engaging the attendees in each section of training and, finding out from each what medications or devices would they like to see patent law reformed on.
What does this mean to the average person? South Africa’s patent office has been ever greening patents on essential drugs. Meaning small changes are made and the patents reapplied for another 20 years. This means that drug company owning the patent get to keep prices high due to exclusivity. The consumer ultimately pays the price due to unaffordability and lack of a generic version. The price paid by patients is disability, suffering and death.
There are many aspects to fixing the patent laws and the most important and first step is public awareness. Knowing what and how this problem affects the patients suffering will help us to reform the patent laws.
The laws need to be changed and the path is clear yet it is evident that the process is going to take time. It has worked in India and the same fight and reform is needed here. Evidently, patent holders don’t want profits cut and will place a stiff fight. Yet, the need is great enough for those that will greatly welcome the change.
Thanks MSF, TAC and Section 27 for making this possible. Join the movement at www.fixthepatentlaws.org
Numbers don’t lie, especially if you take a look at the place of NCDs in the draft health budget. The words about NCDs imply commitment to solving a huge health problem. That is superficial though when it comes to NCDs. There a heaps of great sounding words (policies and plans) but a clear lack of money. Especially for screening and treatment. Words, even printed ones, are cheap. Little has changed:
Whilst the Minister in the preamble of the Annual Performance Plan highlights importance of tackling non-communicable diseases (NCDs) there doesn’t appear to be any dramatic shift in budget allocation over the Medium Term. Can the department provide reasons for this?
Issues for consideration Parliament Research Unit. Vote15: Health Budget 2014/15 p.6
Health is allocated less than 5% of the proposed national budget (Figure 1). Defense get more yet SA loses more people to NCDs each day than in armed conflicts. Where are our national priorities?
Figure 1:
Looking at the details of the health budget
The smallest by far is Programme 4 for Primary Health Care (PHC) services (R 225 -million)
Most People Living With NCDs get care at primary health care (PHC) clinics and this appears to be the reasoning why NCDs are placed within Prog 4 . People living with HIV/AIDS
Our information comes from the draft Annual Performance Plan (APP) and its accompanying budget. – see pages 61-63. Click here to download the draft APP 2015/2016-2017/8
Fast facts stacking up Programme 4 vs other NDoH Programmes 2015/16
Smallest programme
budget by far |
See Figure 2 |
| 1st place people costs |
Programme 4 cost of PEOPLE EMPLOYED R186.2 million = ↓ money available for implementation |
2nd largest # people
employed |
458 by only 10 people short of no 1 placed Programme 1 (p. 27) |
| Only programme to increase personnel costs |
Leaving less to spend on implementing programmes/ plans |
3 NCDs issues related to HIV/AIDS and Maternal Child health appear in Prog 3 budget (cancer cervix, breast cancer policy, immunizations.) Cancer of the prostate does not warrant a mention in the APP.
The key to the APP is words not allocation of funds. Again NCDs screening and treatment is left high and dry.
Fast facts about NCDs Prog 4 budget
Where is the money for implementation of the NCDs plan in this budget?
| 89.37% for people working on projects – personnel, contractors and consultants |
0 for screening of target of 8 million people for high BP and blood glucose OR
NCDs Commission/ Health Commission (more next week on this) |
1.3 % NGOs or non-profits (< R 3-million) > 50% goes to 2 of 6 NGOs
National Council Against Smoking & SA National Council for the Blind. |
NCDs prevention and treatment cross cuts all Programmes especially at the PHC level. So we need to look at inside other programmes. However, without exception there is no separate financial allocation for stated NCDs targets like for example breast cancer policy development and cancer of the cervix screening in Programme 3 (HIV/AIDS & TB.) Innovations like “ideal clinics” which are supposed to include NCDs take place without consulting NCDs civil society organisations.
Examples from Programme 2: NHI
- Drug procurement and stock out management (all drugs including ARVs)
- National Cancer Registry (words no money)
Programme 3: HIV/AIDS & TB
- Cervical cancer screening
- Breast cancer policy (more words no money)
- Vaccinations against hepatitis & human papilloma virus
- Obesity policy (more words no money)
Watchdogs must bark. An NCDs advocacy series. This is the first in a series on NCDs in policy documents.
Gauteng leads the way by holding regular intersectoral NCD prevention and control co-ordination meetings. Its goal is to co-ordinate and facilitate action and planning for NCDs in the province.
At the second meeting at Helen Joseph Hospital on August 28 2015. Holding the first provincial NCD prevention and control committee meeting.
The Gauteng DoH is the first province to bring together members from multiple government sectors (all of government) – Education, Social Development, Sports and Recreation, Rural Development, and NCD stakeholders (all of society.) These include NCDs NGOs including SA NCD Alliance, CANSA and Love Your Nuts and the industry. The aim is to create and focused inclusive plan to combat NCDs.
Gauteng DoH is applauded for bringing together all relevant members to discuss and formulate a plan to make a positive change in the approach to fighting NCDs. This is a great example for us all to follow especially at the critical provincial level.
The next meeting is on 23 September 9:00 to 13:00 at Ann Latsky College. RSVP to Ms Dudu Mthombeni
Gauteng leads the way by holding regular intersectoral NCD prevention and control co-ordination meetings. Its goal is to co-ordinate and facilitate action and planning for NCDs in the province.
At the second meeting at Helen Joseph Hospital on August 28 2015. Holding the first provincial NCD prevention and control committee meeting.
The Gauteng DoH is the first province to bring together members from multiple government sectors (all of government) – Education, Social Development, Sports and Recreation, Rural Development, and NCD stakeholders (all of society.) These include NCDs NGOs including SA NCD Alliance, CANSA and Love Your Nuts and the industry. The aim is to create and focused inclusive plan to combat NCDs.
Gauteng DoH is applauded for bringing together all relevant members to discuss and formulate a plan to make a positive change in the approach to fighting NCDs. This is a great example for us all to follow especially at the critical provincial level.
The next meeting is on 23 September 9:00 to 13:00 at Ann Latsky College. RSVP to Ms Dudu Mthombeni
