Released on: December 16, 2010, 2:12 pm
Author:
Mark Grayson/ Global Health Progress
Industry:
Pharmaceuticals
According to a Reuter’s article, the European Union (EU) and India have come to an agreement which should ease the process of exporting Indian drug manufacturers’ medicines to developing countries, increasing these countries’ access to drugs.
Karel De Gucht, commissioner of the European Union (EU) has confirmed an agreement between the EU and India that will resolve some of the disputes that lead to the seizure of generic drugs in transit last year. This agreement will allow shipments of medication to pass through Europe to developing nations without being checked for anything except counterfeiting.
The new agreement will also amend custom codes allowing shipments of medications from India to reach countries located in South America via Europe. The confirmation comes amid trade talks between the EU and India.
Global Health Progress commends the agreements between the European Union and India, which will increase access to drugs, primarily generic medication, for underdeveloped countries. This process affects the affordability of generic medications to underdeveloped countries which fight the prominence of infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and malaria.
Since the 1960s, the philanthropic efforts of research-based biopharmaceutical companies have worked to get medicines to the people that need them the most. In 2005, biopharmaceutical companies responded to requests with more than $3 billion in medical products donated worldwide.
GHP aids in providing millions of doses of anti-retroviral drugs at discounted prices and, in some cases, for free to patients in developing countries. These donation programs for Least Developed Countries and sub-Saharan Africa, together with programs for lower and middle income countries, apply to more than 87 percent of all people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide.
About Global Health Progress:
Global Health Progress also supports efforts to raise awareness and mobilize
resources to address health challenges in the developing world by bringing local
leaders together with international health experts, policymakers, donor governments,
and the private sector. www.globalhealthprogress.org; twitter.com/globalhealth;
facebook.com/pages/Global-Health-Progress/124850684219049;
linkedin.com/groups?home=&gid=2972068
To stay informed on the latest news about global investment in pharmaceutical R&D and improving access to medicines, sign up to receive special alerts and newsletters. You can also spread the word about the efforts of the Global Health Progress initiative and keep others informed about how we're affecting change around the world or share your story about how you or someone you know is working to promote global health.
Contact Details: 950 F Street, NW
Suite 300
Washington, DC 20004
(202) 835-3460
MGrayson@phrma.org
http://www.globalhealthprogress.org