New Developments in Bill C393

Recently the much debated Bill C393 has overcome a major democratic hurdle. So what exactly is Bill C393? The bill was created as part of the reform of Canada's Access to Medicines Regime (CAMR), originally created in 2004. The primary focus of the bill is to allow Canada the ability to manufacture and export pharmaceuticals products to developing countries, more specifically, those countries that are most affected by HIV and other epidemics, with greater ease than in the past. This bill reform is an attempt to follow up a promise that was originally made and unanimously passed, under Jean Chrétien’s Pledge to Africa Act also created in 2004. Bill C393’s “one license solution” policy would allow pharmaceutical companies to obtain only one license to produce low-priced, generic drugs to multiple countries in a manner that is consistent with Canada’s international standards.

The bill has been widely supported by Canadians, with over 80% in favor of it, in a national poll conducted in 2009. Also, the same poll found 9 out of 10 Canadians agreed the CAMR’s primary goal should ensure quick and safe delivery of generic medicines to developing countries. This statistic countered previous arguments stating that the guiding principle of the CAMR should ensure the protection of pharmaceutical patents. Although these arguments were brought to Parliament’s attention, Bill C393 made little progress through the democratic system, until now.

Two weeks ago a unanimous decision by the House of Commons was made to move Bill C393 to a sitting Member of Parliament, thus allowing it to continue through the democratic process and closer to its goal. The bill is set to come into its 3rd Reading, and advocates hope the bill will continue to pass unanimously.

For more information about Bill C393, please visit:
Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network
Open Parliament
LEGISinfo

This article was compiled from the following sources:
Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, The National Advocacy Committee Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign, A Victory for Democracy Bill C-393 Will Proceed to a Vote in the House of Commons. February 2011.

POLLARA, Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, UNICEF Canada and Canadian Crossroads International: Canada’s Access to Medicines Regime (CAMR) Survey. October 2009.

Bill C393 House of Commons of Canada, 2nd Session, 40th Parliament, 57-58 Elizabeth II, 2009.

Industry Canada, The Jean Chrétien Pledge to Africa Act Approved by Parliament, May 2004.