Bernie Sanders addresses the IMF (politely)

[Chris Burford]

No doubt for some, such initiatives are by definition opportunist. For others they are sallies into an arena of struggle.

Dialectically, they could be both.

Chris Burford

London


Representative Bernie Sanders of Vermont sent a similar letter to the
World Bank.
--
Robert Weissman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Essential Information
P.O. Box 19405, Washington, DC 20036, USA
Tel: 1-202-387-8030
Fax: 1-202-234-5176
www.essential.org

April 5, 2001

Mr. Horst Kohler
Managing Director
International Monetary Fund
700 19th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20431

Dear Mr. Kohler:
As you are aware, there is increasing attention in the U.S. Congress and
around the world to the magnitude of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa and
the developing world. There is also growing concern about the issue of
pricing of HIV/AIDS drugs, and the intellectual property issues that
influence pharmaceutical pricing.
I am writing to inquire as to whether the International Monetary Fund has
been active in the intellectual property issues raised by the HIV/AIDS
crisis. In perusing the IMF's website, I have found that some letters of
intent reference country commitments to revise intellectual property rules.
I would like to know:
* Does the IMF support any particular set of intellectual property rules or
principles as "model" or general rules that all countries should follow?
* Does the IMF maintain a position on the developmental benefits and harms
of guaranteeing patent rights for pharmaceuticals in poor countries?
* Does the IMF have a position on the appropriateness of compulsory
licensing or parallel importing in developing countries? Has it elaborated
any models for the effective implementation of compulsory licensing regimes?
Has it examined particular issues created by compulsory licensing, such as
appropriate royalty rates to patent holders, or administrative procedures to
ensure effective implementation of compulsory licensing rules?
* Has the IMF issued recommendations on intellectual property rules to any
specific country?
* Has the IMF included provisions related to intellectual property in any
loan agreement? Have such provisions been included in any country-generated
documents provided to or developed in conjunction with the IMF, such as, for
example, letters of intent or memoranda of economic and financial policies?
Has the IMF issued any technical advice or assistance related to the
development of intellectual property infrastructure, such as a patent
examination office?
In any case where the answer to one of these questions is "yes," I would
very much appreciate being provided a copy of the relevant policy, technical
papers or project papers.
Thank you very much for your assistance with these matters.
Sincerely,


Bernard Sanders
Member of Congress