Joint Letter of Korean NGOs to the Indian Embassy in Seoul

Jan 29, 2007

N. Parthasarathi

Ambassador

Indian Embassy in Seoul

37-3, Hannam-Dong Yongsan-ku,

Seoul, South Korea

Re : The Norvatis' legal action in India on the Patent Law

Dear Ambassador N. Parthasarathi

On behalf of the 27 Korean NGOs, Trade Unions, I am writing to express our concerns regarding the legal proceedings that Norvatis initiated in India in May 2006, challenging the rejection of its patent application for imatinib mesylate (Gleevec/Glivec) as well as questioning the compliance of the Indian Patents Act with the World Trade Organization's Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights(TRIPS).

This action contradicts the WTO Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health that states that "...the Agreement can and should be interpreted and implemented in a manner supportive of WTO Members' right to protect public health and, in particular, to promote access to medicines for all"

The same declaration allows countries to take measures to protect public health.

But Norvatis is challenging a public health safeguard enshrined within India's Patents Act. This would have a devastating impact on people around the world who rely on affordable medicines manufactured in India.

So patients and healthcare groups around the world are watching carefully this case and the next steps the Indian government will take.

Therefore we are requesting your government not to allow multinational drug companies to improperly extend their monopolies, which result in higher price of important medicines out of reach for the majority of Indians and the patients in the developing countries.

We will fight with you against the greed of multinational companies.

Thank you for your consideration.

Best regards,

Endorsed by :

Consolidation for Medical Consumer

Democratic Labor Party

Health Right Network

Intellectual Property Left

Korean Confederation of Trade Unions

Korean Federation of Medical Groups for Health Rights (KFHR)

Association of Korea Doctors for Health Rights

Association of Physicians for Humanism

Korea Dentists Association for Health Society

Korea Health and Medical Workers Union

Korean Pharmacists for Democratic Society

Korean Health & Medical Workers' Union

Korean Progressive Network Jinbonet

Korean Social Insurance Union

Lesbian Counseling Center in South Korea

Nanuri+, HIV/AIDS Human Rights Advocacy Group of Korea

Korean Gay Men's Human Rights Group

Public Pharmaceutical Center

Sarangbang, Group for Human Rights

Solidarity for Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Human Rights of Korea

Patient Group Combination for Patient Right

Korea ankylosing Spondylitis

Korea Encephaloma Patient Group

Korea GIST Patient Group

Korea Leukemia Patient Group

Korea RCC Patient Group

People's Solidarity for Social Progress

For further information, please contact :

Chun Mun-Ho

Chairperson

Korean Pharmacists for Democratic Society

3F, 26-1, Ewha-Dong, Chongro-Gu,

Seoul, South Korea (110-500)

Email) mediplex@naver.com

Website) www.pharmacist.or.kr

Tel) +82-2-523-9752

Fax) +82-2-766-6025