This week our government could sign away one of India's most important and profitable businesses - low cost medicines.
Global drug companies are lobbying to push India out of the market and get a clause into the India - Europe Free Trade Agreement that would stop our companies producing cheap medicines. We cannot let our government cave to pressure -- if we build a national outcry -- we could save our industry.
Let's call on Prime Minister Singh to defend Indian companies and our proud pharmacy service to the world's poorest. Sign the petition and then forward this email to everyone you know. Avaaz will deliver the petition to the government directly at the EU - India talks:
https://www.avaaz.org/en/eu_
India has nurtured a large generic industry which now exports medicines worth Rs 50,000 crore per year and is the only affordable source of treatment for malaria, AIDS and other diseases across Asia, Africa and Latin America. If our government signs the free trade agreement in its current form this industry will collapse. Thousands of people will lose their jobs and we will lose vital export earnings, while millions across the world will be left with no access to medicines.
Pushed by their pharmacy lobbyists, three countries - France, the UK and Germany - are negotiating hard to crush India's medicines industry. But the financial crisis has weakened Europe, while our economy is booming -- India is strong enough to turn down this bad deal. We can get our government to stand up to this bullying, by taking action before the European Union-India summit on December 10th.
Let’s show our strength and embolden our government to say no to European proposals that would undermine our economy, our rights, and India’s proud role as pharmacy to the world’s poor. Sign the petition now and forward this email widely:
https://www.avaaz.org/en/eu_
In the world we all seek governments prioritise the provision of affordable life-giving medicines for the most needy over free trade deals.
With hope and determination,
