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http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/story/2011/03/09/pol-generics-drugs-ndp.html
Hip hop star K'naan is on Parliament Hill on Wednesday giving his support to an NDP bill that would make it easier for Canada to export generic drugs to developing countries.
Bill C-393 would reform Canada's Access to Medicines Regime (CAMR), which many critics say is a flawed system that has done little to provide affordable medicines abroad since it was first introduced in 2004.
'
Canada is in a position to do a great deal to save millions of people.'
—K'naan, Canadian musician
The NDP has been trying for years to improve the law through a private member's bill. The bill has slowly worked its way through Parliament and will be put to a final vote in the House of Commons on Wednesday night.
K'naan, the Canadian musician who gained international fame with his hit song Wavin' Flag, including its version by all-star musicians to raise money for Haiti relief, learned of the proposed legislation through his charity work and has been an advocate for its passage.
The young artist, originally from Somalia, urges Canadians in a YouTube video to sign a petition urging MPs to support the bill.
"Canada is known as a humanitarian nation and rightfully so," he says. "Canada is in a position to do a great deal to save millions of people," he says.
Under the current system, generic drug makers in Canada must obtain a special licence each time they want to sell a cheaper version of a patented drug to a developing country. They also have to pay royalties on the sales to the drug companies that hold the patents, and the licence is only valid for two years.
Health, humanitarian and other advocacy groups say the CAMR is too complicated and is preventing life-saving HIV medicines and other drugs from getting to poor countries. Several of these advocates are holding a press conference on Parliament Hill at 11 a.m. ET Wednesday to push the government to support the NDP bill.
The changes Bill C-393 would make include allowing generic drug companies to fill multiple orders of the same medication to different countries under one licence and to lift the time limit for the licence.
The last time it was put to a vote in the Commons, the bill passed 143-127. It was then sent to a parliamentary committee where the Liberals and Conservatives tried to amend it. They were unsuccessful and the bill is now back in the Commons for a final vote, scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday.
If it passes, it will go to the Senate for final approval.
Standing ovation to the government for making life saving drugs to countries less fortunate. My question is does that mean these cheaper drugs will be available to Canadians as well. :
Hip hop star K'naan is on Parliament Hill on Wednesday giving his support to an NDP bill that would make it easier for Canada to export generic drugs to developing countries.
Bill C-393 would reform Canada's Access to Medicines Regime (CAMR), which many critics say is a flawed system that has done little to provide affordable medicines abroad since it was first introduced in 2004.
'
Canada is in a position to do a great deal to save millions of people.'
—K'naan, Canadian musician
The NDP has been trying for years to improve the law through a private member's bill. The bill has slowly worked its way through Parliament and will be put to a final vote in the House of Commons on Wednesday night.
K'naan, the Canadian musician who gained international fame with his hit song Wavin' Flag, including its version by all-star musicians to raise money for Haiti relief, learned of the proposed legislation through his charity work and has been an advocate for its passage.
The young artist, originally from Somalia, urges Canadians in a YouTube video to sign a petition urging MPs to support the bill.
"Canada is known as a humanitarian nation and rightfully so," he says. "Canada is in a position to do a great deal to save millions of people," he says.
Under the current system, generic drug makers in Canada must obtain a special licence each time they want to sell a cheaper version of a patented drug to a developing country. They also have to pay royalties on the sales to the drug companies that hold the patents, and the licence is only valid for two years.
Health, humanitarian and other advocacy groups say the CAMR is too complicated and is preventing life-saving HIV medicines and other drugs from getting to poor countries. Several of these advocates are holding a press conference on Parliament Hill at 11 a.m. ET Wednesday to push the government to support the NDP bill.
The changes Bill C-393 would make include allowing generic drug companies to fill multiple orders of the same medication to different countries under one licence and to lift the time limit for the licence.
The last time it was put to a vote in the Commons, the bill passed 143-127. It was then sent to a parliamentary committee where the Liberals and Conservatives tried to amend it. They were unsuccessful and the bill is now back in the Commons for a final vote, scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday.
If it passes, it will go to the Senate for final approval.
Standing ovation to the government for making life saving drugs to countries less fortunate. My question is does that mean these cheaper drugs will be available to Canadians as well. :
