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Talking about patents is generally hard. The word itself brings to mind jargon –making reading about it pedantic and unpleasant. But since patents and patent policies can make drugs unaffordable to large parts of the population, it is important to talk about it. While a majority of MSF’s Access Campaign work revolves around highlighting the exorbitant prices of drugs we also frequently highlight the policies and legislation which enable pharmaceutical monopolies.

India’s patent policy has safeguards to protect frivolous patents that could potentially restrict access to life saving drugs. One such safeguard is called ‘Form 27.’ Under India’s Patents Act, Form 27 mandates all patent holders to declare how the patent is being ‘worked’ in India. What this means is patent holders have to submit details which include if the product is manufactured in India or not and if a patented material is adequately supplied in India. The safeguard is so critical that earlier this month the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has demanded its elimination in a comment to India’s patent office. The reason we are talking about this is because India’s Patent Office had invited comments from all stakeholders on Form 27 in April. MSF, along with other concerned stakeholders, submitted a proposal on the matter. In the proposal, which you can view here (number 16),  we requested the Patent Office to review whether patent holders have filed Form 27 and duly take action on failure to comply with the requirement under the patent law. This opinion piece published in the Hindu is a good resource if you want to know more.
An MSF Health Worker measures a child with a MUAC tape for symptoms of malnutrition at a health centre in Chakradharpur, Jharkhand.Copyright: Nikhil Roshan/MSF
We didn’t talk much about our projects last month but in May we are highlighting our unique community-based management model to treat malnutrition in Jharkhand. India has the world’s highest burden of Severe Acute Malnutrition(SAM). Since 2009, MSF has treated over 17,000 severely malnourished children across the country.

With learnings from our previous intervention, we started a pilot project in June 2017 to identify and treat SAM in children of  Chakradharpur block of Jharkhand in collaboration with the state ministry of health. We have already admitted over 600 children in the programme. This was largely possible due to the consistent efforts of community health workers.  From identifying malnourished children in urgent need to counselling mothers, their work has led to increased awareness about malnutrition among communities in Chakradharpur. The challenge these community health workers face is more than what meets the eye. To give an example of why it’s important to involve the community, in just one of the villages we work in, people speak four different languages. Communication was the biggest hurdle and wouldn’t have been possible without active involvement from the community.

We’re highlighting our efforts in Jharkhand this month in many ways – including through videos and photographs from the region. Get in touch with us if you’d like your newsrooms to have this material
Several families in Chakradharpur make a living by quarrying granite in remote, hilly and forested Bharania in Jharkhand Copyright: Nikhil Roshan/MSF 
On the global front, we continue to face challenges with our search and rescue operations because of restrictions imposed by European authorities. In April, an Italian court rejected an appeal to release the search and rescue boat Luventa which has been impounded by Italian authorities since August 2017. This ruling sets a concerning precedent for MSF and for many humanitarian operations in the Mediterranean and sends a worrying signal – Europe will continue to criminalize humanitarian organisations conducting search and rescue operations in the Central Mediterranean instead of strengthening the capacity to save lives at sea.  “ It is unacceptable that migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers continue to drown at sea with at least 11 people drowning last weekend alone. Saving lives is not a crime!” says Karline Kleijer, Head of the Emergency Desk,MSF.
An inpatient dancing as part of the occupational therapy activities on Wednesdays. Harare Central Hospital Psychiatric Unit Courtesy: MSF
We leave you with an interview of Manighandan Sivaramakrishnan, a public health professional from India, who was a part of the MSF team running a psychiatric project in a prison in partnership with the Zimbabwean Ministry of Health. The project has since been handed over to state health authorities.
Last 2 Weeks to Apply for MSF India Media Fellowship 2018
The MSF Media Fellowship will fully fund reporting assignments for one journalist who can demonstrate the potential for incisive and original reporting on public health and medical humanitarian issues that are concernsThe organisation will provide access to
for MSF.MSFfield work, advocacy and research material to the fellow.The 2018 MSF Media Fellowship will have cross-national coverage on access to life saving medicines focusing on India and South Africa.
For more information please read here
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