Sample Letter to Congress re the Doha Resolution
Susan Gold 123 Fake Street Chicago, Il 60646 (555) 111-1234 April 1, 2008 The Honorable Barack Obama 40B Dirksen Senate Office Building [note that this address is temporary until April 19, 2008] United States Senate Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator Obama, Re: Co-Sponsorship of the “Doha” Global Access to Medicines Resolution (S.Res. 241) I am writing to ask you to please make access to medicines in developing countries a priority by co-sponsoring Senate Resolution 241. The resolution calls for a new direction in U.S. trade policy that promotes both developing country-focused medical innovation and access to lifesaving medicines. Access to affordable, generic versions of medicines for important public health problems like cancer, heart disease and HIV/AIDS in developing countries is a critical issue. Unfortunately, the current Administration has not been living up to the commitments it made to promote and protect access to medicines when it signed the 2001 Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health at the World Trade Organization (WTO). It has pressured and sanctioned developing countries like Brazil and Thailand that have used the WTO-compliant patent rules to introduce affordable generic medicines for serious public health problems. By co-sponsoring the S.Res 241, you will be demonstrating much-needed support for countries like Brazil and Thailand, who are under continuing pressured to cancel their world-class generic medicines programs. You will also be sending an important message to the Administration, to brand-name pharmaceutical companies, and to developing countries that may be considering the introduction affordable generic medicines to solve public health problems, that respecting the Doha Declaration is a priority to you. Thank-you for your attention to this important issue. I look forward to your response. Yours Truly, [Handwritten signature goes here] Susan Gold