Campaign Policy & Research Intern - Fix the Patent Laws

The “Fix the Patent Laws” campaign (FTPL) started in November 2011, and is comprised of a core coalition of the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), SECTION27, and Doctors Without Borders (MSF). FTPL advocates for the South African government to develop and implement a national Intellectual Property (IP) policy that takes advantage of legal flexibilities in the TRIPS Agreement to practically and feasibly overcome patent barriers and access more affordable generic medicines.

For the past six years, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has been in the process of developing a comprehensive national policy on IP, which will initiate changes to the country’s patent laws. In September 2013, the DTI released a Draft National IP Policy for public comment, with the FTPL coalition handing in a joint submission with recommendations to the DTI in October 2013. The DTI has since hired a consultant (Genesis Analytics) to conduct a regulatory impact assessment on the draft policy, and announced that an interdepartmental government task team (that includes the Dept. of Health (DOH), Dept. of Science and Technology (DST) and Dept. of Finance (DOF), among others) is finalizing the national policy before submitting it to Cabinet and, ultimately, Parliament, for approval.

Following approval of a national policy, new legislation will require drafting, some existing legislation will need to be amended, while other existing legislation may already be in line with the national policy, and instead need to be adequately resourced and implemented. However, at this point in time, no final policy has been forthcoming from the DTI, though government officials have noted that the policy will be completed by the end of 2014, with bills going to Parliament in 2015, and patent examiners being trained from Q2 2015.

Applicants Sought: The coming year will be critical for IP reform, and Doctors Without Borders is seeking a Policy & Research Intern to assist in developing materials that strengthen the case for IP reform that supports realisation of the constitutional right to have access to healthcare services, including access to medicines.

Desired skill set: Individual(s) with strong research, content production, and communications skills. Background or previous experience with advocacy, health policy, law, medicine and/or intellectual property issues beneficial. Should be able to familiarise self with online patent search database. Must be able to grasp basic concepts of health economics, pharmaceutical pricing.

Timeframe: Start date ASAP, following closing date for applications and interviews. Intern will work three days a week, flexible scheduling within MSF office hours. Must be available for three to six months minimum.

Management: Reports to and managed directly by MSF Access Advocacy Officer.

Location: MSF South Africa’s Johannesburg office (Braamfontein)

Benefits: Intern will receive hourly compensation in line with MSF policies. Opportunity to work for highly respected international NGO on current policy issues.

Tasks:

• Conduct research on patent landscapes, pricing, market dynamics for identified key drugs that illustrate FTPL objectives; and identify policy actions that could overcome access barriers.
• Liaise with clinicians, patients, medical aid schemes, government officials to further identify medically relevant drugs that are priced out of reach, or have other barriers to access
• Draft briefing documents on key medicines (inclusive of patient stories when possible), and support drafting of external communications for FTPL based on research outcomes.
• Develop further economic analysis and/or R&D arguments that support FTPL objectives.
• Monitor Parliamentary schedules to identify opportunities for FTPL interventions and briefings
• Provide support to FTPL events coordination, as needed.

HOW TO APPLY:

Applicants should submit a CV, letter of interest, and copy of ID (with work permit, if not South African citizen) to researcher@joburg.msf.org by March 8, 2014. Incomplete applications or individuals without current South African working permits will not be considered.

For more information about Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders (MSF), visit:www.msf.org.za