Public Health Association calls on Government to protect medicines, public health

21/11/2013

The Public Health Association is calling on the Australian Government to support efforts to protect access to medicines and public health measures in negotiations on the Trans Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA).

The United States is pushing a controversial proposal on pharmaceuticals for inclusion in the TPPA, which includes provisions on exclusive rights over test data, patent linkage and patent term extensions. A group of other countries - including New Zealand, Canada, Singapore, Chile and Malaysia - have put forward a counter-proposal for a more flexible approach that would largely protect access to affordable medicines. It is important that Australia supports the counter-proposal, if we are to protect access to medicines and related public health measures in Australia,” explained PHAA spokesperson Dr Deborah Gleeson.

Read the Public Health Association's Press Release

Read AFTINET's letter to Trade Minister Andrew Robb on this issue