The Hill: Doctors Without Borders to India: Protect the ‘pharmacy of the developing world’
Judit Rius Sanjuan, U.S. manager and legal policy adviser for the Access Campaign at Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)

“…In recent years, MSF has grown increasingly alarmed with the escalating efforts of U.S. industry groups, … which demand the White House and Congress apply pressure on India to modify its intellectual property law in a manner that would irreversibly damage public health. … [S]tricter intellectual property rules do little to enhance innovation … We need a system that ensures not only that all governments pay for innovation, but that innovation is needs-driven and affordable to all. … India’s patent laws are not only important for India; they are an important model for the U.S. and others on how governments could pay for innovation while establishing limits on how companies abuse the system to charge unaffordable prices and limit competition. … India’s policies are not only fully consistent with global trade rules, but also coherent with public health commitments and needs of both India and the United States. India must unequivocally reject the intellectual property laws and practices of the United States that have led to an unprecedented global health crisis: spiraling medicine prices held hostage to lengthy and multiple monopolies…” (6/7).