TO THE EDITOR:
The World Health Organization estimates that 10 million people die every year who could be saved by existing drugs but are simply too poor to afford them. Approximately one-third of the global population does not have regular access to essential medicines. These numbers seem like mere statistics until one realizes that we can change this disparity; such a fate for millions less fortunate than ourselves is not inevitable.
We, Universities Allied for Essential Medicines (UAEM), strive to avert this health crisis by using the resources that universities and students have. Because many life-saving drugs are developed in campus laboratories, universities wield substantial power when they license their drugs to pharmaceutical companies.
Our proposal is simple: every university-developed drug, vaccine or medical diagnostic should be licensed with a concrete, effective and transparent strategy to make it affordable in poor countries for essential medical care.
We cannot rest until every potential drug, diagnostic or vaccine developed on a university campus is licensed with global access provisions. Our goal of enabling access can be a win-win for everyone: pharmaceutical companies continue to profit, universities’ royalties are not decreased and, most, importantly, medicines are available to those who need it the most.
My purpose for writing this letter is straightforward: We need your help. Global Access to Medicines Month starts today and we hope that you will participate. Come to our meeting this Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in Chapman Hall to learn how you can help. Everyone is welcome!
Carolyn Treasure
Junior
Economics
