What is BUKO Pharma-Kampagne?

BUKO Pharma-Kampagne was founded with the aim of examining the activities of the German pharmaceutical industry in Third World countries. We want to implement changes by taking  special actions and informing the public in detail. Pharma-Kampagne is a campaigning group of the Bundeskoordination Internationalismus (BUKO) (Federal Coordination of Internationalism) uniting 130 German action and solidarity groups working in favour of the Third World. 

More than 20 years ago, BUKO Pharma-Kampagne started to pay attention to the theme "Drugs and the Third World ". Today it is one of the few organisations in Germany that has a critical look at the dark side of the drug market in the North and in the South. Its commitment protects patients and consumers. BUKO Pharma-Kampagne supports the human right to healthy living conditions. Therefore it discusses also the negative repercussions of economic globalisation. We work closely with health and consumer groups all over the world. In collaboration with the international health network Health Action International (HAI) we managed to reveal many risks to health resulting in major improvements to healthcare policy in recent years.

How does BUKO Pharma-Kampagne work?
BUKO Pharma-Kampagne observes the marketing practices of German drug companies in the Third World and in Germany. For not all drugs are useful. We examine what is rational and what is essential, and criticise the sale of dangerous and useless drugs. We do our best that all people get access to vital drugs. We are against advertising, sponsoring and public relations misleading and influencing consumers and medical practitioners. We also draw people’s attention to the fact that drugs are important but that they do not change unhealthy conditions: For poverty makes sick. We carry out research and make scientific studies. With our intense public relations work we try to define healthcare policies.

Brochure:
AIDS - Normalization in the North - Tragedy in the South?
Whereas HIV/Aids is regarded as a controllable chronic disease in the western world - not the least because of the availability of effective medication -, the situation for large parts of the world´s population is dramatic: In Africa, south of the Sahara, 23 million people are infected, among them about two million children. However, the infection figures are also on the rise in Eastern Europe.
This brochure does not only give you recent figures and facts concerning the worldwide spread of HIV. Is also summarizes the latest developments in the fields of HIV-prevention, therapy and research. Interview with experts on the situations in India, South Africa, Germany and the Ukaine present first-hand information and illustrate the problems encountered in prevention work or as regards access to effective therapies. Read more...

Brochure: 
Medical research: Science in the public interest
"Equitable licenses" for the results of publicly sponsored medical research
Public funding often plays a key role in research and development (R & D) of new medicines. But such innovative drugs are often not affordable for people in poor countries. How can access to these publicly-funded innovations be secured for as many people as possible? How can we in particular improve access to medicine for people in developing countries? One possible solution for this challenge could come with the concept of "Equitable Licensing". Equitable licenses, examples of which have been developed by legal experts and universities in the USA, are specific licenses for the technology transfer between public institutions and the pharmaceutical industry.
This brochure presents background information about challenges in the drug supply in poor countries. Numerous case studies show the US experience with new licensing models and highlight possible approaches for the specific German setting. Read more...

New website informes about equitable licensing project in Germany
For the first time a German platform gives information about new approaches for the use of patents from publicly-funded research. Following the concept "Medical research: science in the public interest", drugs and vaccines based on publicly-funded research should be made available to people in developing countries. Therefor new license models will be developed.

gives background information on the insufficient drug supply in developing countries and seeks for solutions for an equitable use of patents in German research institutions. Cases studies will refer to universities in the United States were concepts of equitable licensing are already discussed and partly implemented. Equitable licensing means licensing concepts where provisions to improve access for developing countries are included.
Today this concepts are hardly discussed in Germany. Therefor the website was mainly developed for German target groups, but has also a section in English language giving basic information on the project.
www.med4all.org is a cooperation by BUKO Pharma-Kampagne (Bielefeld), Charité Universitaetsmedizin Berlin and the Center for European Law Politics / University of Bremen with financial support by Volkswagen Foundation.

Did you hear about the Constant Gardener?
Many have seen the film following John le Carré’s book “The Constant Gardener”. We are more than delighted that “The Constant Gardener” has not only become a bestseller but also has attracted much attention to a topic that is usually neglected by public interest: The role of pharmaceutical producers in developing countries. Multinational companies based in the rich countries are selling harmful, useless and far too expensive drugs to the world’s poorest nations. They are corrupting medical practice and earn huge profits from people who have to struggle for their everyday survival.

Many readers have written to us. Please do not hesitate to come back to us if you need further information. If you want to give us a donation you can go directly to our call for donation