October 3, 2006 Source: :
http://www.news.utoronto.ca/bin6/061003-2595.asp Access to medicines viewed as a
human righ Conference to
explore corporate social responsibility
Oct 3/06
by Maria Saros Leung An Oct. 18 conference at U of T’s Munk Centre for International Studies will
examine what role corporations should play in providing lifesaving
medications to people in need. The World Health Organization estimates that approximately one-third of the
world’s population does not have access to essential medicines. Professor
Jillian Clare Cohen of the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy and post-doctoral
fellow Lisa Forman have assembled experts from academia, industry,
government and non-governmental organizations for Access to Medicines as a
Human Right: What Does It Mean to Corporate Social Responsibility? The
day-long event will feature three panel discussions and a keynote address
from internationally renowned scholar Thomas Pogge. A professor of political
science at Columbia University, Pogge authored the seminal book World
Poverty and Human Rights, widely recognized as one of the most important
works on global justice. Cohen, who is also director of the comparative program on health and society
at the Munk Centre -- and whose own research interests centre on equitable
access to pharmaceuticals for the world's poor -- expects the workshop will
generate discussion and debate. "Our intention is to bring stakeholders together to discuss a critical
public policy issue: how to improve access to medicines globally and how can
the private sector help achieve this goal through the auspices of corporate
social responsibility? We hope to uncover the window dressing and discuss
the issues in earnest," Cohen said. Panellists include:
• Rachel Kiddell-Monroe, Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders).
Kiddell-Munroe is the campaign head for the organization’s Campaign for
Access to Essential Medicines;
• Rebecca Cook, professor and faculty chair in international human rights, U
of T;
• Joel Lexchin, associate professor, family and community medicine, U of T.
• Frank DeFelice, health and industry policy planning, Merck Frosst Canada
Ltd.;
• Jim Keon, president of the Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association;
• Richard Elliott, deputy director of the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network;
• Abby Hoffman, executive director, pharmaceuticals management strategies,
Health Canada;
• Robert Freeman, former director of public policy, Astra-Zeneca;
• Tim Gilbert, expert in pharmaceutical regulatory law, Gilberts Law Firm;
• Patricia Illingworth, associate professor of philosophy, Northeastern
University. Professor James Orbinski of the Munk Centre for International Studies and
former president of Médecins Sans Frontières will also be participating in
the conference, sponsored by law and pharmacy, the Munk Centre for
International Studies and the comparative program on health and society. The
cost to attend is $30, but is free for students. A sliding scale is
available upon request. For more information or to register, please visit
http://www.pharmacy.utoronto.ca/righttomedicine/.
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