Do not restrict Indian pharmaceutical industry, says Elton John
February 10th, 2012 - 8:00 pm ICT by IANSLondon, Feb 10 (IANS) Singer Elton John is urging officials to stop plans to restrict India’s pharmaceutical industry, branding the proposals an “attack on the health of the world’s poor”.
The 64-year-old, who is a long time supporter of Aids charities, is unhappy about the situation and he wants government bosses in Britain to intervene, reports contactmusic.com.
In a piece for British newspaper The Independent, he writes: “In a high-level summit in Delhi today officials from the EU will try to force India into accepting restrictions on its generic medicine industry that would mean delays of up to 10 years in delivery of generic versions of new, improved medicines and up to 15 years in the case of paediatric versions of the same drugs.
“This is an attack on the health of the world’s poor motivated by the aggressive demands of profit-hungry multinational pharmaceutical companies. The British Government must step in and stop the EU attack. The UK has a proud record on international development and access to medicines… I’ve battled for many years to see progress in the AIDS response. I don’t want to see those achievements thrown away.
“This is a critical moment. The government must stand up for the rights of people living with HIV and the health of the world’s most vulnerable by stopping this EU attack on the vital Indian supply of essential medicines. We cannot allow Europe’s greed to triumph over the needs of HIV patients around the world.”
- Activists slam EU-India Free Trade Agreement - Feb 10, 2012
- Don't block affordable Indian medicines, EU urged - Dec 10, 2010
- India to continue generic drugs for HIV patients - Jul 06, 2011
- India-EU trade deal threatens access to life saving drugs - Mar 23, 2011
- Who says cheap Indian generic medicines are fake? Not WHO - Sep 14, 2012
- Trade pact with EU won't impact pharma industry: India - Dec 10, 2010
- India urges international community to promote generic drugs - Jun 09, 2011
- US pushing India to hike cancer drug price - Jul 13, 2012
- HIV vaccine design program launched in India - Mar 03, 2011
- Ranbaxy, Russian region sign healthcare pact - Jan 31, 2011
- EU-India trade deal could cost lives, aid groups warn - Apr 26, 2010
- Remove non-tariff barriers in pharma sector: India - Jul 03, 2012
- Global conference of sex workers starts in Kolkata - Jul 22, 2012
- Regulate foreign investment for cheaper medicines: Azad - Nov 01, 2010
- Ranbaxy's South African arm bags $133 million order - Dec 20, 2010
Tags: 10 years, aids charities, british government, critical moment, elton john, generic medicine, generic versions, greed, hiv, hiv patients, indian pharmaceutical industry, john london, living with hiv, london feb, long time supporter, medicine industry, medicines, multinational pharmaceutical companies, proposals, proud record