The purpose of this paper is to examine a six-year global campaign started by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in 2006, to seek public understanding on the importance of generic life-saving medicines in developing countries, and to challenge Norvartis pharmaceutical company to drop its patent case against India. This paper seeks to investigate the campaign’s objectives, adopted tactics and results, to answer the questions How did MSF approach its diverse publics? and Was this campaign a success?
Within the scope of Aristotle’s rhetorical theory and Freeman’s stakeholder theory, this paper aims to draw conclusions to the above questions and set forth recommendations to be considered for MSF’s later, related campaigns.
Situation analysis
India has been known as the main supplier of essential medicines for developing countries, for it produces generic medicines, which are inexpensive in price, but still maintain high quality standards, and exports to all over the world. 67% of the medicines exported are purchased by the non-governmental organization (NGO), such as MSF or UNICEF, to treat the needing poor, or by the health programs in many developing countries (WHO, 2004). For HIV medicines, India is among the few countries in the world that are capable of making new medicines as generics (Médecins Sans Frontières, 2007). Therefore, many AIDS programs, including those of MSF, use India as the primary source for medical products.
The reason India became the key producer of cheap medicines is until 2005, India did not grant patents for pharmaceutical companies, allowing generic manufacturers to produce more affordable medicines which are patented elsewhere. The situation changed in 2005, when India joined World Trade Organization...
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...does not have direct impact on Novartis. On the other hand, within the more important stakeholders, only a minor part of Novartis’ shareholders and politicians from developed countries joined the campaign, while the others might have a conflict of interests or see a better opportunity in maintaining the high standards for the drugs.
Conclusion
Even though hailed victory by the campaign organizers and participants, the conflict was not over. Many subsequent campaigns of MSF are still challenging this patent issue with a number of multinational pharmaceutical companies. All of them use similar tactics to those of “Drop the case,” and over a long period of time, some companies agreed to join MSF’s patent pool, while others (including Novartis) still keep their grounds. The fight still goes on. Whether the final victor is patients or patent has yet been determined.
Heinrichs had previously worked as a journalist before becoming a full time writer and advocate for rhetoric. He utilizes illustrative examples to convey rhetorical concepts. Furthermore, chapter four reveals the most valuable logos and pathos tactic. Lastly, this book’s use should be continued in this course.
The pharmaceutical and biotech industries must be free to develop and research life saving medicines and other advancements that will benefit society. If this cannot be done, progress would never be made. People would still be contracting polio a...
The Indian pharmaceutical industry enjoys certain advantages, which include low cost of innovation and capital expenditure, and strong domestic support in production, from raw material requirements to finished goods. The competitive structure of the pharmaceutical industry was being redefined due to the threat of new entrants, intense price competition, entry of large players, and new regulations and rules as well as a shift in focus. In addition, the partnerships between pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies were growing rapidly. The global pharmaceutical market is undergoing rapid transformation. There has been a dramatic shift towards emerging markets as western markets slow down.
...this action will like come at huge cost, considering a few years ago there was a lawsuit against a drug manufacturer that reformulate its product at the end of it patent life. Even though court held the complaints to be void, the case came under public scrutiny at that time.
“In a business context, customers, investors and shareholders, employees, suppliers, government agencies, communities, and many others who have a “stake” or claim in some aspect of a company’s products, operations, markets, industry, and outcomes are known as stakeholders. These groups are influenced by business, but they also have the ability to influence businesses; thus, the relationship between companies and their stakeholders is a two-way street. Sometimes activities and negative press generated by special interest groups con force a company to change its practices” (Ferrell 31-158). Thus, the French abortion pill’s real life situation, stakeholders were; the pharmaceutical industry, anti-abortion groups, women, Hoechst, Roussel-Uclaf’s employees, the French Government, the French Ministry of Health, and China. Each stakeholder has its own basic values underlying their respective positions; some might have the same basic values or have their own basic values, don’t share basic values. The pharmaceutical industry and its employees would win and lose in the decision that would be made. I...
The Pharmaceutical industry in India is the world's third-largest in terms of volume. According to Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, the total turnover of India's pharmaceuticals industry between 2008 and September 2009 was US$21.04 billion. While the domestic market was worth US$12.26 billion. The industry holds a market share of $14 billion in the United States.
FDA, so many people were harmed. Even other countries versions of the FDA approved it which
The author indicates that there are three essential parts to provoke a rhetorical response, which are exigence, audience, and constraints. He hints at other parts and conditions of providing a rhetorical response, but these three are illustrated as completely necessary.
Many people have heard of the rhetorical concepts of ‘pathos’, ‘ethos’ and ‘logos’ but only a few truly understand them. Aristotle, in his book ‘Rhetoric’, outlined the art of persuasion through using these concepts. ‘Pathos’ refers to how well the writer appeal to the readers’ emotions; ‘ethos’ refers to the credibility of the writer; and ‘logos’ refers to the use of logical reasoning and facts. I will use these rhetorical concepts in the preceding paragraphs to describe my thoughts and experience and modify my readers’ perspective.
Although monopolies appear damaging at times, there are arguments that they are an advantage to society. Monopolies in the pharmaceutical industry drive companies to pursue research and development (R&D) efforts to gain new patents. According to a 1992 study, among the 24 US. Industry groups, pharmaceuticals dedicated 16.6% of their amounts to basic research, while all other industries averaged at 5.3% (Sherer 1307). This fact validates the incentive pharmaceutical companies have to get a patent and acquire more power. Pfizer encourages R&D because of the incentives and a want to obtain patents to receive more profit. Pfizer has to promote itself to be successful, creating a good brand image that consumers will trust. If the company can advertise successfully, more consumers will purc...
In this assignment, I am going to analyze a financial analysis report of Microsoft Corporation in order to explore the benefit of using the rhetorical strategy and the rhetorical appeal in writing. The full title of this report is “management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations report,” which is also called MD&A (“2016 annual financial report”). The MD&A is a disclosure note written by the Chief Executive Officer of Microsoft Corporation, and the purpose of this report is to help the potential audiences better understand the operation strategies and financial results of the corporation so that these potential readers can have more confidence to make their decisions and do business with Microsoft Corporation.
Though rhetoric is an art, and though effective rhetoric demands attention to style, timing, and knowledge, there are other elements that require attention. There are numerous ethical and emotional dimensions that function within rhetoric. These dimensions are immeasurably important, particularly given the epistemological and relativistic nature of rhetoric.
In the business of drug production over the years, there have been astronomical gains in the technology of pharmaceutical drugs. More and more drugs are being made for diseases and viruses each day, and there are many more drugs still undergoing research and testing. These "miracle" drugs are expensive, however, and many Americans cannot afford these prices.
2. Media exposure and NGO support/protest can both be helpful and detrimental to Hemetal's reputation as a pharmaceutical company. Pharmaceutical companies need to gain the trust of the public for the end consumers to patronize its products. Getting bad publicity, especially being "young" in the industry, will greatly affect the company's sales and its life.
Pharmaceutical patents are patents for inventions within the pharmaceutical industry. Patents give exclusive rights for an invention for a product or a process of making a product [1]. There are many aspects to patents in the pharmaceutical industry that are both pros and cons; it just depends on what industry you are in. Pharmaceutical companies take out patents so they can regulate the market and restrict competition from other companies. By obtaining patents pharmaceutical companies also attract investment. In addition to this pharmaceutical companies can also regulate the price of the drug as they will be the only company selling that drug. However these aspects of patents can adversely affect the generics industry. The generics industry cannot make or sell drugs that are patented but once a patent licence expires, both the generics industry and the WHO see increased benefits as drugs become more widely available around the world (i.e. developing countries) at a lower price. Here we will discuss the pros and cons of patents from the point of view of the pharmaceutical industry, generics industry and the WHO.