Don’t trade away our lives, urge folk with HIV/Aids
By Edward Low
As the negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement
(TPPA) enter what could be its last round, we as people living with
HIV/Aids (PLHIV), urge the Malaysian government not to trade away our
lives.
The chief negotiators are meeting from July 24 to 27 in Hawaii,
followed by the meeting of trade ministers from July 28 to 31. The
intellectual property chapter is one of the most contentious issues
because of the potential effects it has on access to affordable
medicines. It is one of the outstanding issues that will be the focus of
attention in the Hawaii meeting.
Although the TPPA is negotiated in secret, the chapter on
intellectual property has been leaked. The proposed provisions go beyond
what is required in the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Agreement on
Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (Trips). These
so-called Trips-plus provisions have been demonstrated to result in high
prices for longer and will hamper access to cheaper generic medicines.
These medicines are our lifeline. PLHIV need to have continuous
treatment access with 2nd line regime and 3rd line regime to prolong our
life. If they become unaffordable, many of us will not be able to
continue treatment and will die premature deaths.
- The TPPA threatens the lifeline of people living with HIV/Aids, argues Edward Lo. (Photographer: Brian Wingfield/Bloomberg)
