Abbott Laboratories and health as a human right
In April 2007, the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility published a report on Abbott Laboratories and health as a human right:
'Right to Health' Creates Substantial Human Rights Risks for Abbott Laboratories, Report Finds: New report finds 'present response to access to medicines issues is inadequate' and recommends Abbott approach access to medicines as human rights obligation
Abbott Laboratories' primary human rights challenge is the right to health, a new report by the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility has found... [The report] evaluates the legal and business risks facing Abbott Laboratories under current human rights law...[and] argues the company should "address the right to health through responsible company behavior, and not through philanthropy alone."
full report: "Human Rights Challenges Facing Abbott Laboratories: Risks and recommendations" [PDF]
In response, Abbott provided the following statement:
[PDF] Abbott's Commitment to Global HIV Care
In August 2006, the World Health Organization (WHO) identified heat-stable lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) tablets as the recommended protease inhibitor for second-line therapy in resource-limited settings, because it is co-formulated and does not require refrigeration, which are key benefits for patients living in the developing world... To help ensure that all patients who need our HIV medicine can get it, Abbott has implemented five practical measures:
- Innovation
- Broad Registration
- Lower-strength Tablet for Pediatric Use
- Building Ongoing and Quality Supply
- Tiered and Affordable Pricing