In three days, India may sacrifice cheap medicines in a trade deal with Europe. But, if we put trade minister Sharma in the spotlight, we can threaten his pro-poor image and get him to defend our generic drug industry. Sign the urgent petition and share it widely:

In three days, our health could be sacrificed for a disastrous trade deal. But we can still stop our government signing away India’s right to make and sell cheap medicines.

The India-European Union trade talks are highly secretive, but a leaked draft shows that Commerce Minister Sharma could appease Europe's big pharma lobby and weaken our massive generic drugs industry. Sharma knows there will be a scandal if everyone realises he’s about to make vital medicines unaffordable, but hopes to sign on the dotted line before people notice.

Time is crucial -- if the deal isn’t done when Sharma goes to Brussels early next week, it’ll have to wait until after the election. Sign the petition calling on Sharma to stand up to big pharma, letting him know that his image as a defender of the poor will be shattered unless he defends our health and India’s flourishing generic drug industry. Sign now and share this email widely:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/eu_pharma_vs_indias_people/?bTfWiab&v=24010

Generic drugs are a massive Indian success story. One generic cancer beating drug is sold in India for just a twelfth of the identical brand name version, and 80% of AIDS drugs used in developing countries come from India.

However, if the India-EU trade agreement overturns Indian patent rules, big European drug makers can sue our generics manufacturers and freeze the supply of cheap medicines. Our courts have seen off European challenges -- Sharma himself welcomed the recent Supreme Court decision to uphold generic cancer drug manufacture, so it would be crazy for him agree to change our intellectual property laws to suit Europeans.

The government claims the Free Trade Agreement will promote Indian business abroad, but Europe looks likely to gain a lot more than India. Almost 70% of Indian farm exports and 65% of other goods already go to Europe duty free and several of Europe’s biggest manufacturers are already Indian-owned. The trade deal would also allow subsidised EU agricultural exports to flood the Indian market.

Sharma feeds off his image of caring for the poor, and has won awards for his support to Africa. Let’s remind him of his commitment and get him to stop this deadly deal - sign now and share this with everyone:

http://www.avaaz.org/en/eu_pharma_vs_indias_people/?bTfWiab&v=24010

Avaaz members have come together to protect different parts of this great country before. We have won more information for poor people about their rights to healthcare. We have freed Indian workers trapped in the Middle East. Now we can protect everyone from dairy farmers to cancer patients in India, as well as people around the world who rely on Indian medicines.

With hope and determination,

Alex, Alaphia, Patricia, Luis, Meredith, Emma, Marie, Ricken and the entire team at Avaaz


MORE INFORMATION

EU-India Free Trade deal in final lap, diplomats say (EurActiv.com):
http://www.euractiv.com/global-europe/eu-india-free-trade-deal-final-l-news-517147

The Enforcement Provisions of the EU-India FTA: Implications for Access to Medicines (MSF):
http://www.msfaccess.org/content/enforcement-provisions-eu-india-fta-implications-access-medicines

Uncertainty looms over India-EU Free Trade Agreement (The Tribune):
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130408/biz.htm#1

Anand Sharma hails SC verdict on Novartis (Business Standard):
http://businesstoday.intoday.in/story/anand-sharma-hails-sc-verdict-on-novartis/1/193749.html

Poll shadow looks over India-EU FTA (Times of India):
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Poll-shadow-looms-over-India-EU-FTA/articleshow/18393611.cms

India may conclude talks on EU trade pact during April (Live Mint and The Wall Street Journal):
http://www.livemint.com/Politics/jkUr2nRTyX2QJOQYMt9HhI/India-expects-to-sign-trade-accord-with-EU-at-midApril-meet.html

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