English to follow:

D’abord la vie, pour les mères et les enfants séropositifs!

Le Réseau juridique canadien VIH/sida et les Universités alliées pour les médicaments essentiels vous invitent à une session d’information sur le « Régime canadien d’accès aux médicaments » (RCAM) qui aura lieu le 14 avril 2010 de 9h30 à 12h30 au Centre St Pierre, Montréal. Cette initiative est d’une grande pertinence pour les organismes qui travaillent sur les G8/G20 et sur la santé des enfants et des mères. Veuillez nous joindre dans ce moment critique au Canada pour l’accès aux médicaments essentiels.

Il y a plus de cinq ans, le Parlement du Canada a répondu à l’urgente nécessité de médicaments pour des pays en développement en créant le RCAM. Celui-ci devait faciliter l’accès à des médicaments abordables pour les personnes malades dans plusieurs pays en développement. Malheureusement, cette initiative louable comportait de graves lacunes.

Aujourd’hui, nous avons l’occasion de rectifier cela! La session d’information se porte sur le RCAM et le nouveau projet de loi C-393 pour le réforme du RCAM. C-393 est présentement à l’étude par un comité de la Chambre des Communes à Ottawa. Les organismes qui voudraient travailler pour assurer l’adoption de ce projet de loi sont invités à nous joindre pour une séance de travail qui suivra des présentations.

Location : Centre St Pierre, 1212 rue Panet, Montréal (métro Beaudry).

Pour plus d’informations, veuillez contacter Rachel Kiddell-Monroe à Rachel.k.monroe@essentialmedicine.org.

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Putting lives first : Canadian legislative reform can help HIV positive mothers and children

The Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network and Universities Allied for Essential Medicines invite you to attend an information session on the Canadian Access to Medicines regime on 14 April 2010 at 9.30 am to 12.30 pm in Montreal. This initiative is particularly relevant for organizations working on G8/G20 and on mother-child health issues. Please join us at this critical moment for Canadian action on access to essential medicines.

Over 5 years ago, the Canadian parliament responded to the urgent need for drugs in developing countries by creating the “Canadian Access to Medicines Regime” (CAMR). This should have facilitated access to affordable medicines for patients in many developing countries. However this laudable initiative is gravely flawed.

Today, we have the chance to act. The new Bill-393 is under review by a parliamentary committee in the House of Commons in Ottawa. This information session will provide background and an update on the current state of affairs. The organizations that would like to know more about practical advocacy activities to assure the adoption of this Bill are invited to join us for a practical work session after the presentations.

Location: Centre St Pierre, 1212 rue Panet, Montreal (metro Beaudry).

For more information please contact Rachel Kiddell-Monroe at Rachel.k.monroe@essentialmedicine.org–

2 events organized by McGill Global AIDS Coalition on March 24

1)

World Tuberculosis Day Panel Discussion: MISSING DRUGS
The McGill Global AIDS Coalition will be hosting a panel discussion with three highly acclaimed professionals who will examine the impact of the global TB and AIDS epidemics, the consequences of an insufficient pharmaceutical industry, and Canada’s significance in each issue.

Dick Menzies MD., Director of Respiratory Medicine, MUHC will discuss the limitations of controlling the global TB and AIDS epidemics as well as the challenges that hinder treatment availability, accessibility, and innovation.

Marc-André Gagnon PhD., Post-Doctoral Fellow, Faculty of Law will outline business strategies and models of the Canadian pharmaceutical industry which often result low-incentives for medicinal innovation.

Rachel Kiddell-Monroe, President of the Board for Universities Allied for Essential Medicines will bridge the gap between corporate incentives and steps that the Canadian government can take to ameliorate the situation.

Chancellor Hall 101, 3644 Peel St.

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010

12:45 PM - 1:45 PM

For more information please contact: director@treatthepeople.com

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2)

Spread the word!!!

JOIN US in a nation-wide Day of Action to demand action in improving access to essential medicines. Come denounce Member of Parliament Marc Garneau’s (Westmount- Ville Marie) vocal opposition to reforming Canada’s Access to Medicines Regime (CAMR). CAMR is legislation passed in 2005 that was supposed to facilitate the supply of generic medicines to developing countries, but that has thus far failed. Only one order of drugs has left the country, largely because of unnecessary, bureaucratic red tape. MP Garneau, Liberal Science and Technology critic, voted against Bill C-393 (a bill to reform CAMR) in its second reading. Despite this opposition, the bill will now be reviewed in the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology of which MP Garneau is a member. Nine out of ten children do not have access to live-saving HIV/AIDS medications. Canada must fix CAMR NOW!

Join us for a creative demonstration in one of the following ways:

1. Meet at New Chancellor Day Hall 101 (Faculty of Law - 3644 Peel) at 1:45PM (metro tickets will be provided)

or

2. Meet at Marc Garneau’s office (4060 Sainte-Catherine West near metro Atwater) at 2:15PM

note: HIV+ve t-shirts, signs, and other materials will be provided

A Public Forum on Reforming Canada’s Access to Medicines Regime

Friday, March 5th, 2010
12:30pm - 2:00pm

Are you interested in global health? Or helping developing countries get access to desperately needed medicines? Then come learn about Canada’s Access to Medicines Regime (CAMR) this Friday and see how you can help achieve those goals.

The McGill Global AIDS Coalition, along with Universities Allied for Essential Medicine, Nurses Without Borders, and the Post Graduate Student Society will be launching their advocacy campaign for the passage of Bill C-393 to reform Canada’s Access to Medicines Regime (CAMR), which would facilitate the exportation of generic medicines to developing countries.

On Friday, March 5th 2010, there will be a public forum with Richard Elliott (Executive Director of the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network), Rachel Kiddell-Monroe (President of the Board at Universities Allied for Essential Medicines), and Dr. Nicholas King (Professor of Biomedical Ethics at McGill). These experts will discuss the challenges posed by CAMR and the solutions offered by Bill C-393. There will also be an update on the Bill’s status from Thomas Mulcair (MP for Outremont). The forum will take place from 12:30 pm-2:00 pm in the McConnell Engineering Building (room 204) of McGill University Campus. The forum will be open to questions. If you have any questions regarding the event, please contact director@treatthepeople.com.

As the forum marks the beginning of our advocacy campaign, we will have letters to Members of Parliament to sign. We encourage you to write your own letter regarding Bill C-393 and CAMR, or use one of our pre-formatted ones.

Please join the McGill Journal of Law and Health and the McGill Journal of Medicine for an interdisciplinary day of discussion at the “2nd Student Colloquium on Health and Law: Universities as Global Innovators”. The one-day colloquium boasts a formidable itinerary: distinguished lectures, small group discussions with speakers, poster presentations, and a panel discussion on the role of universities in improving global health issues.

Speakers include:

Dr. Nick Drager (former Director of the Dept. of Ethics, Trade, Human Rights and Health Law at the WHO),
Ms. Rachel Kiddell-Monroe (President of Universities Allied for Essential Medicines; former Canadian Coordinator for Médecins Sans Frontières),

Prof. Richard Gold (President of The Innovation Partnership; Founding director for the Center of Intellectual Property and Policy),

Mr. Richard Elliott (Executive Director, Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network),

Dr. Tim Brewer (Director of McGill Global Health Programs; Chair of AFMC Resource Group on Global Health),

Dr. Margaret Graham (Director of the McGill Innovation Consortium),

Dr. Laurette Dubé (Chair of the McGill World Platform for Health and Economic Convergence initiative)

and Dr. Tim Geary (Director of McGill’s Institute of Parasitology; Canada Research Chair in Parasite Biotechnology)

Early registration is only $12 for students and includes breakfast, lunch, and wine & cheese
Visit their website for more details.

When: Saturday February 6th 2010 9:30am to 7pm (registration table and breakfast from 9:30am)
Where: McIntyre Building, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University
Includes: Admission, breakfast, lunch, participation in small group discussion, and wine & cheese

Cost: 12$ students/20$ non-students (deadline 1 February at 11:59pm).
Registration at the event is $15 but may be limited.

IF YOU’D LIKE TO GO… email director@treatthepeople.com