Email pharmaceutical giant Novartis
India's important role as the pharmacy of the developing world is under attack. Multinational drug company Novartis is challenging India's patent law in court.
While proclaiming publicly that it "aspires to responsible and conscientious global citizenship based on trust, transparency and accountability" Novartis is taking the government of India to court to restrict its right to make life saving medicines affordable to poor people.
Novartis was recently denied a patent for a cancer drug (Glivec) but is refusing to accept the ruling and is now challenging India's Patent Law.
This could seriously impede poor people obtaining cheaper medicines and is against an international agreement that declares that developing countries can produce and import cheaper versions of medicines in the interests of public health.
Why should you care?
If Novartis wins its case, poor people in India will be denied cheaper cancer drugs.
India is the world's biggest producer of cheaper and therefore more affordable medicines. If Novartis is successful, it will jeopardise India's ability to provide a wide range of drugs, including HIV medicines, to millions of poor patients in developing countries.
Q & A -
all you need to know about the case here
Act now!
Send an email to Dr Daniel Vasella, the CEO of Novartis