Recently I spotted couple of Romanian doctors who gave positive answers about the generic HCV drugs when they were asked on online platforms whether such medication is effective. Even though their answers were quite short and sharp (i.e. “YES” or “it worked well on my patients”, there is an obvious fact to mention here: there are more and more doctors AWARE that the generic HCV medication does work.
It would have been a clear “suicide” for these doctors to claim that generic drugs are not working (especially that so many people confess about being cured with generic drugs), but at the same time, it might have been also a “suicide” for them to openly advertise about the generic drugs (as long as the generic drugs are not approved to be used in the country).

So, this leads to the following idea:
1. If YOU (yes, you, the reader of this post) are new on this forum and still have doubts (which is completely understandable) about the generic HCV drugs mentioned on this forum, why aren’t you looking for an online forum or blog where the doctors use to answer to the questions the patients are asking, place your question about the HCV generic medication and see what the doctor will tell you.
You may ask something like “Hi, I am thinking to cure my HCV with generic medication, yet i would like to know whether these drugs are safe and/or effective?”

2. If YOU (yes, you, the reader of this post) are already familiar with this forum (or even better, got treated with generic HCV medication) would like to help someone, why not doing a 5-10 minutes search to find a forum where someone is asking a doctor about the generic HCV medication and see whether you may provide some useful information (like the ILC Press Release from Barcelona 2016 or the article written by dr. Freeman and dr. Hill about the usage of HCV generic medication) and see whether a doctor will notice the information and hopefully will leave a reply. In this way you might help the patient by providing a couple of relevant information and ….who knows, maybe for that doctor it will be some interesting study material.

Cheers,
RHF

Hi Hieu,

thank you for sharing this video.
Seeing that the video was filmed within the TEDx format and looking at the TEDx rules (see below) , triggered me another idea: how would it be if “someone” could make a TEDx film to explain the idea of the Buyers Club supporting people to access the generic medication for HCV.
TEDx videos seem to be quite attractive for many people.
A TEDx video about HCV generic drugs would imply no commercial / marketing for the generic producers, rather it would focus on the idea of accessing the HCV generics by highlighting key facts that:
– HCV generics work;
– Art 60 from Trips allows the importation for personal usage in many countries from the world;
– the Buyers Club is intended to support patients to import the drugs;
– raise awareness about the importance of the supply chain (…. which for some looks like a kind of scarecrow)….

Presenting such information would be extremely relevant for the HCV patients (who desire mostly to get treated and perhaps not in the same extent to argue about or fight with current Big Pharma’s practices) and aligned with the spirit of TEDx, which has the following rules:
What is a TEDx event?
Imagine a day filled with brilliant speakers, thought-provoking video and mind-blowing conversation. By organizing a TEDx event, you can create a unique gathering in your community that will unleash new ideas, inspire and inform.
TEDx event is a local gathering where live TED-like talks and videos previously recorded at TED conferences are shared with the community. TEDx events are fully planned and coordinated independently, on a community-by-community basis. The content and design of each TEDx event is unique and developed independently, but all of them have features in common.
TED’s format
A suite of short, carefully prepared talks, demonstrations and performances that are idea-focused, and cover a wide range of subjects to foster learning, inspiration and wonder – and provoke conversations that matter.
TED Talk videos
Every TEDx event either shows only TED Talk videos to its audience, or shows both TED Talk videos and live speakers from the community. For events less than half a day in length, two TED Talks videos are required to be shown. For longer events, 25% of the total number of talks must be official TED Talk videos. All TED Talk videos can be found on TED.com.
Diversity of topics
All TEDx events present multiple issues and a diversity of voices from many disciplines. After all, what’s the fun without a little variety?
Community-driven and bias-free content
TEDx event is organized by volunteers from the local community, and just like TED events, it lacks any commercial, religious or political agenda. Its goal is to spark conversation, connection and community.
What a TEDx event is not:
– TEDx event isn’t an industry or marketing conference. It isn’t limited to one topic or field. It isn’t used to sell something.
– TEDx event is not organized by or for special-interest political, religious or commercial groups.
– TEDx event cannot be used to raise money, not even for a charity.
– TEDx event cannot partner with another conference or event.
– TEDx event can’t be co-branded with an institution except under specific license types – for a college or university, or for internal events (for corporations and organizations).
– TEDx event is not a platform for professional speakers, such as motivational speakers and professional life coaches. Its purpose is to give a platform to those who don’t often have one.
– TEDx event is not focused solely on entrepreneurship, business or technology. Diversity of topics is key!
(see more about TEDx rules on https://www.ted.com/participate/organize-a-local-tedx-event/before-you-start/what-is-a-tedx-event )

Such an idea would however require to have a good presenter …. .

In case anyone thinks this idea sounds pretty good to give it a chance, perhaps we may continue to think on it.

Cheers,
RHF

A current issue in the present times is that not so many people are aware about treating and eradicating HCV via generic drugs. So sharing this bit of information that generics work and, as dr. Freeman pointed in the article published on Liver International, using the Art. 60 from TRIPS as an imperfect, but pragmatic solution are the tools that are currently available to treat those HCV patients being denied by the healthcare system.
Looking in the past history of humanity, 500 years ago those people saying that the Earth is round and orbiting the Sun were still rejected by the society, but the more the news was spreading, the more people were becoming aware that this is a new truth which eventually ended to be accepted by the entire world.
So, even though it is sad to see that people continue to die, in a near future the world will know that those deaths could have been prevented if IP and monopoly rights given by the patent system would have been differently conceived. But yes, that’s something which requires politics….a lot of it….

Cheers,
RHF

Hi Ariel,

Now it is becoming really interesting.
What a nice objective would it be to start the mass deployment on a worldwide level of HCV treatment with generic DAAs in 2017!

Cheers,
RHF

Many people today are used to watch videos in order to get the information “at a glance”, so perhaps a good idea would be for those who are already active on Facebook or Twitter about HCV topics, to try to share some of the videos that can be retrieved here on Fixhepc:
Couple of examples for videos:

Or

Or

Or any other relevant video that was posted on this forum.

Cheers
RHF