Essential Innovation:
Invitation to a strategy meeting - 14./15. February 2005

We invite:
* all HAI Europe members interested in work on Essential
Innovation within their own country

We want to discuss
* the background of HAI's work on Essential Innovation and the
European Commission's 7th Framework Program for Research
* our own common objectives for national and European lobbying
* our further strategy for networking, producing campaigning
material etc.

We will meet
* at the HAI office in Amsterdam from 14.Feb 2005 (1pm) to 15.Feb
(1pm)


Background: In the research and development (R&D) of new drugs there
is a lack of real innovation, that is, innovation geared towards a
rational and sufficient drug supply for the world population. R&D is mostly
driven by profit, not by real need. On the one hand, there is hardly
any research into so-called "neglected diseases", infectious diseases
affecting mainly people in developing countries.
On the other hand, the market in rich countries is flooded with 'lifestyle
drugs' and
'pseudo-innovations' without real therapeutic value. Analysed from a public
health perspective, the profit-driven private R&D system isn't working.
There is an increasing public awareness of the problem. But
alternative policy responses have yet to take root. What is clear is
that giving more public money to industry as a "gift for innovation"
cannot be the solution.

Meanwhile, the European Commission plans to launch the 7th Framework
Program on research (FP7) in Summer 2005. This represents a key
opportunity for HAI Europe's "Essential Innovation" campaign, a chance
to inject ideas on alternative models for R&D into international
discussions.

Targets: We need to raise awareness with:
a) scientists across Europe who in many cases ignore the political
dimension of their work
b) Politicians on the national and European level.

HAI Europe and Spring Gombe as project coordinator cover the European
dimension of lobbying the European Commission and building
partnerships with other multinational organisations. But, for successful
work there
is also a need for working at the national level in member states.

BUKO Pharma-Kampagne from Germany are funded by HAI Europe for
coordinating national lobbying activities in 2005.
For more information and to express interest in attending the meeting,
please contact:
Spring Gombe spring@haiweb.org and Christian Wagner:
cwagner@bukopharma.de

Notice:
HAI members interested in joining the strategy meeting are asked to
cover costs for travel and accommodation by themselves. The HAI office
can't give any reimbursement!