For Release October 14, 2015
Media Contact:
Deborah V. Hall, M.D.
National President
pres@amsa.org
AMSA Opposes Trans-Pacific Partnership Deal – A Threat to Public Health and Access to Medicines
Sterling, Virginia – On October 5, the final round of Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations concluded in Atlanta, GA. With this agreement, 12 countries representing 40% of the world’s GDP have moved to jeopardize global public health by restricting access to medicines and expanding corporate control over public policy. This marks the beginning of the final push toward fast-track adoption of the deal. As the TPP moves to Congress, it is imperative to expose the full details of this agreement to the American public, mobilize grassroots opposition, and prevent its implementation.
Despite strong criticism from AMSA and other advocates, the public was completely shut out of negotiations. The process remained shrouded in secrecy, attended only by trade ministers and corporate representatives, excluding those advocating for public health and consumer protections. However, leaked documents reveal that the intellectual property provisions in the TPP could extend patents for non-novel drugs, making generic alternatives more expensive and harder to access. This would deprive patients of life-saving medicines, particularly in developing countries, where affordable generics are critical to individual and public health.
Additionally, the TPP includes provisions granting corporations the power to challenge national laws—even those designed to protect public health—through a mechanism called Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS). These disputes would be decided by international tribunals, with members selected through unclear processes, yet their rulings could override national health policies.
This deal was shaped by corporate interests, with minimal public oversight. It represents a massive giveaway to multinational corporations, including pharmaceutical giants, at the expense of patient health and consumer protections.
AMSA remains unwavering in its commitment to ensuring access to medicines for all and preserving the right of nations to make public health decisions free from corporate influence. We stand in solidarity with Doctors Without Borders (MSF), Universities Allied for Essential Medicines, Public Citizen, and other allies in opposing the TPP as it moves to Congress in the coming weeks.
About the American Medical Student Association
The American Medical Student Association (AMSA) is the oldest and largest independent association of physicians-in-training in the United States. Founded in 1950, AMSA is a student-governed, non-profit organization committed to representing the concerns of future physicians. For more information about AMSA’s advocacy, strategic priorities, or membership, visit www.amsa.org.
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