Rally to Protest NOVARTIS Action Aganist Indian Government

[Guest guest]

NOVARTIS - DROP THE CASE RALLY. DNP+ TO PROTEST NOVARTIS ACTION AGAINST INDIAN

GOVERNMENT

29 JANUARY 2007. JANTAR MANTAR, DELHI. 11 AM ONWARDS

Novartis Challenges Sovereignty Of Government Of India To Protect Right To Life

And Health - Threatens Worldwide Access To Safe, Effective And Affordable

Medicines from India

This month as Indians we celebrate the 58th year of the highest law of the land

- the Indian Constitution. In the same month Novartis is challenging our most

basic and fundamental Constitutional right - THE RIGHT TO LIFE AND HEALTH!!!

In 2005, the Indian Parliament while changing India's patent law in

compliance with TRIPS ensured that key public health safeguards were

introduced in the Indian Patents Act to ensure continued access to safe,

effective and affordable medication not just for Indians but for millions around

the world.

Now, multinational pharmaceutical company Novartis is taking the Indian

government to court challenging these safeguards and to force a change in the

country's patent law. Millions of people around the world today rely on

affordable generic medicines produced in India.

The outcome of the case will affect access to essential drugs for AIDS, cancer,

asthma, mental illness, heart disease, etc.

Patients and public health groups across the world have protested Novartis'

actions in India. The case is being heard at the Chennai High Court.

We, the Delhi Network of Positive People (DNP+) strongly oppose Novartis'

unjustified litigation and call for an immediate withdrawal of the case.

DNP+ also expresses its solidarity with Indian cancer patients that have also

been dragged to court by Novartis as part of this case.

JOIN US TO DEMAND THAT NOVARTIS DROP THE CASE

THE RALLY WILL TAKE PLACE ON JANUARY 29, 2007 AT JANTAR MANTAR, NEW DELHI,

11.A.M. ONWARDS.

Loone Gante

e-mail: <loon_gangte@...>