Dear Commissioner de Gucht,

We write to you today as a medical organization that is deeply concerned about the damaging impact the European Commission’s current trade policies will have on patients’ lives. Medecins Sans Frontieres relies on affordable generic medicines to treat people in more than 60 countries – over 80% of HIV medicines we use to treat over 160,000 people are from India.

We have previously corresponded with you and our colleagues have met with members of your cabinet. We note that you have made some efforts to address concerns but many areas remain that will create additional barriers to production, distribution and sale of generics. The Commission’s policies, despite your assurance to the contrary, also by far exceed international trade rules as set out in the TRIPS agreement.