Update on Bill C-393

The A Word previously featured an article on Bill 393, to view this article click here.

As noted in our previous blog post, “Bill C393 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 This bill reform is an attempt to follow up a promise that was originally made and unanimously passed, under Jean Chrétien’s Pledge to Africa Act also created in 2004.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.”

So where are we now?
Although over 4000 Canadians sent emails via www.letdemocracywin.ca asking the government to pass Bill C 393, the bill regrettably failed to pass.(1) It was uncovered through a leak to the media that a memo urging the defeat of Bill C-393 and other misinformation was issued to all Conservative Senators by the Minister of Industry, Tony Clement. Unfortunately, the contents of the memo proved to be convincing despite that Bill C-393 was passed 172 – 111 in the House at a third reading with support from all party members.(1)

Due to the delay of various Senators, Bill C-393 was unable to move forward, and although efforts to prevent further adjournments were pursued, (two separate votes were held in the Senate) they proved to be defeated.(1)

To the dismay of the many Canadians who supported Bill C-393, these aforementioned delays and the recent dissolve of Parliament, has prevented the bill from ever coming to a final vote and passing into a law. Bill C-393 died on March 26th, 2011.(1)

With out Bill C-393, men, women and children will not benefit from greater access to life saving medications. It remains to be seen if new legislation will be introduced to address access to affordable medications in developing countries. In the mean time, concerned Canadians can continue to contact their Members of Parliament to support the intentions of Bill C-393.

For a list of how the Senators voted, click here for the vote on March 23, 2011, and here for the vote on March 24, 2011.

This article was written by AIDS Calgary Awareness Association's Team Leader of Client Services.

Sources:
1.2011 Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, http://www.letdemocracywin.ca/

http://www.aidslaw.ca/publications/interfaces/downloadFile.php?ref=1857