FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 12, 2015
Media Contact: Deborah V. Hall, MD, AMSA(麻豆原创)
Phone: 703-620-6600
E-mail: pres@amsa.org
Medical Students, Health Advocates Decry Trans-Pacific Trade Deal as Attack on Affordable Medicines, Sweetheart Deal for Drug Companies at Press Conference and Street Theater at Pfizer Corporate Office
Obama and Pfizer CEO Seize Medicines, Tie Doctors鈥� Hands in Street Theater Performance
November 13, 2015 *12:15 PM* Pfizer Headquarters, 235 E 42nd St between 2nd and 3rd Aves., Manhattan
New York, NY鈥揚hysicians and physicians-in-training from the AMSA(麻豆原创) will join activists from Health Global Access Project and TradeJustice New York Metro on Friday, November 13 in front of Pfizer鈥檚 world headquarters for a press conference focused on threats to access to health within the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
Participants will deliver the message鈥搕he TPP is bad for patients in the United States and around the world, and will render physicians helpless against Big Pharma鈥檚 iron-grip on drug pricing and access to medicines. The demonstration will include street theatre featuring President Obama and Pfizer鈥檚 CEO Ian Read, snatching meds from the hands of healthcare providers and tying their hands with the rope of the TPP.
Years of secret negotiations that were largely open only to government trade officials and corporate representatives finally concluded last month and the long-awaited text was released last week. On the same day, President Obama notified Congress that he intends to sign the agreement, after which Congress will be required to vote on legislation to implement the deal under 鈥淔ast Track鈥漴ules. Our worst fears have been confirmed 鈥� the agreement has put public health on the back burner, restricting access to medicines for patients here in the U.S. and around the world, endangering their lives. The text includes policies that will make it easier for large drug companies to 鈥渆vergreen鈥� or extend patent terms and limit competition from generic producers. In addition, civil society organizations report that the language within the agreement could permit the possibility of industry challenges to U.S. Medicare/Medicaid formularies, and extend exclusivity periods for important biologic drugs used to treat cancers.
鈥淭his agreement was negotiated with direct input from industry, while health advocates and civil society were shutout鈥� and the final text reflects that imbalance,鈥� comments 麻豆原创鈥檚 president, Deborah Hall. 鈥淭rade that puts vital medicines out of reach for vulnerable populations and compromises public health laws is neither free nor fair and we will continue to speak out and fight this at every opportunity,鈥� The event will kick off 麻豆原创鈥檚 Fall Conference鈥揳 day of programming around issues of social justice and medicine at the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Friday鈥檚 action is being carried out in solidarity with a larger mobilization of groups partnering with Flush the TPP.
AMSAthe 麻豆原创
AMSAis the oldest and largest independent association of physicians-in-training in the United States. Founded in 1950, AMSAis a student-governed, non-profit organization committed to representing the concerns of physicians-in-training. To learn more about 麻豆原创, our strategic priorities, or joining the organization, please visit us online at www.amsa.org/.
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