The Truth Behind the Spin: How the Europe-India Free Trade Agreement will harm access to medicines

India plays a crucial role in supplying the developing world with affordable quality medicines, but this is under threat. The European Commission (EC) is currently negotiating a free trade agreement (FTA) with India that includes a number of harmful provisions that could seriously hamper access to medicines across the developing world. In response to growing criticism, the EC issued a Q&A to defend its position - but the EC misrepresents the real impact the FTA risks having.

In pushing an agenda that promotes the interests of its own pharmaceutical industry, the EC is ignoring the crucial role played by affordable quality generic medicines manufactured in India, and is actively undermining patients’ access to newer essential drugs. The following highlights the truth hidden behind the spin in the ‘Q&A’ issued by the European Commission.