OMI Work on Improving Access to Medicines
The Missionary Oblates have engaged pharmaceutical corporations through the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) to improve access to essential medicines for AIDS. We dialog with Merck, Johnson & Johnson, Abbott Laboratories, Pfizer, Novartis, Gilead, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline and F. Hoffmann-La Roche.
We have also worked with extractive and technology industries operating in developing nations to extend HIV/AIDS testing and treatment to their workers. Such companies include Exxon-Mobil, Conoco Phillips, Chevron, Freeport-McMoran, Newmont Mining, Barrick Gold and Marathon Oil. Technology companies include IBM, Apple, Nortel and GE.
We have urged companies to:
- supply affordable HIV/AIDS anti-retroviral drugs to prevent mother-to child transmission
- offer AIDS medicines below cost or free of charge to poorer nations where AIDS is a national crisis
- increase research and development in neglected diseases
- work cooperatively with the generics industry to enable the provision of low-cost essential medicines for poor populations
- provide appropriate health care and anti-retroviral drugs to employees and their families
- refrain from pressing for TRIPS-plus measures in bi-lateral trade agreements to strengthen patent protection at the expense of drug affordability in poor countries.
Resources:
Benchmarking AIDS: Evaluating Pharmaceutical Company Responses to Public Health Crisis in Emerging Markets, ICCR, Corporate Examiner, Vol 34, No.6-7, August 2006 (Download PDF)
Investing for Life: Meeting poor people’s needs for access to medicines through responsible business practices, Oxfam America. (Download PDF)
The ILO Code of Practice on HIV/AIDS and the world of work: “The best single document on HIV/AIDS the UN has produced”, Stephen Lewis, UN special envoy on HIV/AIDS to Africa
Access to Medicines Index: Stakeholder Review Process
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines
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