New Guatemalan Law and Intellectual Property Provisions in DR-CAFTA Threaten Access to Affordable Medicines

New Guatemalan Law and Intellectual Property Provisions in DR-CAFTA Threaten Access to Affordable Medicines
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières

Geneva/New York, 11 March 2005 - Following the recent passage in Guatemala of Decree 31-88 and the US-Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA), the international medical humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) reiterated its concerns about their devastating impact on access to essential medicines in Guatemala and throughout the region.

"We fear that our ability to ensure sustainable access to treatment for our patients, particularly people with HIV/AIDS, will be severely affected," said Dr. Karim Laouabdia, Director of MSF's Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines.

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"Paying more money for the exact same medicines means treating fewer people and, in effect, sentencing the rest to death," said Dr. Laouabdia. "We are especially worried that Decree 31-88 and intellectual property provisions in DR-CAFTA could make newer medicines unaffordable - our patients will need these in order to stay alive once their first-line regimen fails."