People's Health Movement South Africa

Moderator:
Prof. Leslie London | UCT & PHM SA

Panelists:
Candice Sehoma - Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF);
Prof Rodrigo Uprimny – National Univ of Columbia. Member of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights;
Prof. Yousuf Abdoola Vawda - Univ of KZN

During the pandemic, we have sharply highlighted the inequitable access to care and prevention for COVID-19, and the terrible impact that has had on the health of the most vulnerable in South Africa.

The inequity in the response to COVID-19 reflects the highly unequal and divided South Africa care system even prior to this.

Moreover, our legislative framework for access to medicines and health care technologies has long been problematic, denying people access to their rights to health care. In the joint Civil Society submission on South Africa’s report to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) in 2018, obstacles posed by patents were highlighted. The submission noted that “A patent law reform process began in 2009, but nearly a decade later, no new legislation has been enacted. Patent legislation that protects public health could help facilitate generic competition, cut prices and increase access to essential medicines.” Fast forward three years, still no progress.

Access to medicine and health technologies has been clearly demonstrated under COVID-19 as a critical issue, with patents obstructing access to diagnostics for COVID-19. Obstacles posed by Intellectual Property barriers loom large as one of the key contributory reasons behind vaccine inequity.

The webinar seeks to answer some of these questions:

Why is there need for need for domestic patent law reform to achieve right to health
Is flexibilities and compulsory licensing is accessible in Africa
What does the right to health and the right to benefit from Scientific Progress mean in practice when we face barriers in access to health technologies?
What lessons can we draw from International Guidance on this matter? UN Treaty Body Database

Moderator:
Prof. Leslie London | UCT & PHM SA

Panelists:
Candice Sehoma - Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF);
Prof Rodrigo Uprimny – National Univ of Columbia. Member of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights;
Prof. Yousuf Abdoola Vawda - Univ of KZN

During the pandemic, we have sharply highlighted the inequitable access to care and prevention for COVID-19, and the terrible impact that has had on the health of the most vulnerable in South Africa.

The inequity in the response to COVID-19 reflects the highly unequal and divided South Africa care system even prior to this.

Moreover, our legislative framework for access to medicines and health care technologies has long been problematic, denying people access to their rights to health care. In the joint Civil Society submission on South Africa’s report to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR) in 2018, obstacles posed by patents were highlighted. The submission noted that “A patent law reform process began in 2009, but nearly a decade later, no new legislation has been enacted. Patent legislation that protects public health could help facilitate generic competition, cut prices and increase access to essential medicines.” Fast forward three years, still no progress.

Access to medicine and health technologies has been clearly demonstrated under COVID-19 as a critical issue, with patents obstructing access to diagnostics for COVID-19. Obstacles posed by Intellectual Property barriers loom large as one of the key contributory reasons behind vaccine inequity.

The webinar seeks to answer some of these questions:

Why is there need for need for domestic patent law reform to achieve right to health
Is flexibilities and compulsory licensing is accessible in Africa
What does the right to health and the right to benefit from Scientific Progress mean in practice when we face barriers in access to health technologies?
What lessons can we draw from International Guidance on this matter? UN Treaty Body Database · Facebook · Twitter · Donate · Website

Our experiences in Community Monitoring on C19

In this episode:
Facilitated by: Dr Lauren Paremoer, member of PHM SA
Speakers:
Bongelane Nene - Community monitor from Gauteng
Caroline Mshengo - Community monitor from Mpumalanga
Noluthando Nontobeko Mhlongo - Community monitor from KwaZulu Natal
Dr Theresa Mwesigwa - DoH

EACT is a civil society coalition working together towards equitable access to C19 technologies. Part of the work was conducting community monitoring activities towards acmes and adherence C19 preventative measures, access to C19 vaccines and community sentiments towards C19 technologies (including masks, physical distancing, vaccines etc)
Through a Q&A the monitors share their findings of the past 6 months.

Our experiences in Community Monitoring on C19

In this episode:
Facilitated by: Dr Lauren Paremoer, member of PHM SA
Speakers:
Bongelane Nene - Community monitor from Gauteng
Caroline Mshengo - Community monitor from Mpumalanga
Noluthando Nontobeko Mhlongo - Community monitor from KwaZulu Natal
Dr Theresa Mwesigwa - DoH

EACT is a civil society coalition working together towards equitable access to C19 technologies. Part of the work was conducting community monitoring activities towards acmes and adherence C19 preventative measures, access to C19 vaccines and community sentiments towards C19 technologies (including masks, physical distancing, vaccines etc)
Through a Q&A the monitors share their findings of the past 6 months. Facebook · Twitter · Donate · Website

Since the pandemic was declared by the WHO, there has been a rush to try to find ways to stop the virus. The production of a vaccine that would help both to get immunity, as well as manage the symptoms of the disease. But the race for vaccine is a complicated one. We live in a world dominated by Big Pharma, and there is a competing interest of the health of the global population, and profit. Vaccines are patented, strict and limited production is imposed, and highest bidder comes first. Vaccine apartheid or nationalism was a term coined due to the inequality in distribution to developing countries, and unequal access as countries prioritise certain groups, nationalities, ethnicities over others.

This episode looks at issues of Vaccines and international property rights, the TRIPS waiver, and the vaccine roll out in Southern Africa.

Speakers:
KM Gopakumar, Third World Network
Baba Aye, PSI Health and Social Sector Officer
Tichaona Fambisa, PSI SRS for Southern Africa

Since the pandemic was declared by the WHO, there has been a rush to try to find ways to stop the virus. The production of a vaccine that would help both to get immunity, as well as manage the symptoms of the disease. But the race for vaccine is a complicated one. We live in a world dominated by Big Pharma, and there is a competing interest of the health of the global population, and profit. Vaccines are patented, strict and limited production is imposed, and highest bidder comes first. Vaccine apartheid or nationalism was a term coined due to the inequality in distribution to developing countries, and unequal access as countries prioritise certain groups, nationalities, ethnicities over others.

This episode looks at issues of Vaccines and international property rights, the TRIPS waiver, and the vaccine roll out in Southern Africa.

Speakers:
KM Gopakumar, Third World Network
Baba Aye, PSI Health and Social Sector Officer
Tichaona Fambisa, PSI SRS for Southern Africa Facebook · Twitter · Donate · Website

In this episode we discuss overcoming barriers to medicines, vaccines, and medical tools for cancer, diabetes, HIV and TB, as well as COVID-19.

This is even more important as the World Trade Organisation's TRIPS council meets to discuss the proposal by South Africa.

In this episode we discuss overcoming barriers to medicines, vaccines, and medical tools for cancer, diabetes, HIV and TB, as well as COVID-19.

This is even more important as the World Trade Organisation's TRIPS council meets to discuss the proposal by South Africa. Facebook · Twitter · Donate · Website

International Solidarity for the TRIPS Waiver

Moderator: Kate Stegeman | Advocacy coordinator, MSF Access Campaign, South Africa Connect with Kate on LinkedIn · MSF Access Campaign

International Solidarity for the TRIPS Waiver

Moderator: Kate Stegeman | Advocacy coordinator, MSF Access Campaign, South Africa Connect with Kate on LinkedIn · MSF Access Campaign · Facebook · Twitter · Donate · Website