Tahir Amin and Priti Radhakrishnan

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2008

Tahir Amin and Priti Radhakrishnan

Initiative for Medicines, Access & Knowledge (I-MAK)

http://www.i-mak.org

New York, New York, United States

Community Improvement & Economic Development, Health, Legal Advocacy

The Bold Idea:

Creating a public interest team of attorneys and scientists who ensure that patents do not obstruct access to affordable medicines for poor patients in developing countries.

Nearly two billion patients in developing countries lack access to affordable medicines. When drug manufacturers develop a product, the price is supported by government-granted rights called patents. Unmerited patents keep prices artificially high, causing patients to suffer. Improving access could save ten million lives per year, according to the World Health Organization.

The Initiative for Medicines, Access & Knowledge (I-MAK) fills a void in the existing landscape by consolidating legal and scientific expertise, usually housed in the pharmaceutical industry, to act in the public interest. By building a powerhouse of technical expertise on drug patents, I-MAK will ensure that fewer poor-quality patents are granted, and that medicines quickly get to patients who desperately need them. I-MAK will also make the work of other NGOs more efficient by supporting drug patent challenges in the public interest.

Tahir Amin and Priti Radhakrishnan pitching at Echoing Green Selection Weekend (May 2, 2008)

Biography:

Tahir Amin and Priti Radhakrishnan are attorneys who joined forces to work on grassroots interventions and community-based advocacy. They witnessed firsthand the impact of advocating with those who traditionally could not give voice to their lack of access to treatment: in 2004, they fought for public health safeguards within the Indian patent law, where many patients have died due to limited access to medicines. Tahir and Priti hold law degrees from the University of Westminster, School of Law, and NYU School of Law respectively.

Moment of Obligation: What experiences led to the desire to start your own organization?
In India we worked with people living with HIV who were struggling to access medicines that could save their lives. We advocated for increased access, yet people living with HIV continued to suffer and die for lack of treatment. India was not alone. We found the same situation playing out for poor patients across the developing world. Realizing that these deaths were preventable moved us to act. We founded I-MAK as a global public interest team of attorneys and scientists focusing exclusively on removing unmerited patents as barriers to treatment for these patients.

Gall to Think Big: What has given you the ability to dream big and take on deeply entrenched social and difficult problems? (Such as experiences, skills, events, etc.)
As lawyers we are taught there is justice in the world. Our work in India showed us there is little justice for the millions of forgotten people who cannot access affordable medicines. We quickly realized that, using our unique blend of legal skills and experience, this injustice can be changed. By representing the needs of patients whose cries are not heard, we believe we can help them access affordable medicines and realize their dream of a chance at life.

New and Untested: What's innovative about your new idea for social change?
A team of lawyers and scientists working for patients who can match what the pharmaceutical companies have. We have created that team and will carry out legal challenges and create information allowing others to tackle these issues. Look at our most recent case: a company was charging unconscionable prices to poor countries. Our legal challenges in India and Europe are now being used by different groups in other countries. It’s unprecedented, we are a uniquely positioned law firm taking on pharmaceutical companies who are abusing the patent system and placing drugs out of reach from patients who need them.

Seeing Possibilities: What are the most important qualities to be a successful social entrepreneur?
Vision, belief, and persistence. Belief in your vision even when everybody thinks it’s easier to maintain the status quo. We’re not about that. Be fearless enough to shake things up. In our work, the pharmaceutical industry isn’t seen to be changing their walk so the activists won’t change their talk and we’re still going around in the same old circles. We learned that you can pursue a difficult, innovative path and still be successful. Don’t be afraid of those who want to maintain the status quo. Not if you want to effect meaningful change.

Which musical artists/albums get you going and keep you inspired?
Curtisbrothersmusic.com, the album Thenum Theniyam (Priti’s dad’s creation!), Outlandish – Bread and Barrels of Water, flamenco guitar, Nusrat Fateh Ali, Public Enemy, Patty Griffin, Sufi music.

What books do you recommend (pleasure, work and anything in between)?
Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, The Great War for Civilisation by Robert Fisk, Chain of Command by Seymour Hersh, The Clash of Fundamentalisms by Tariq Ali, Straw Dogs–Thoughts on Humans and Other Animals by John Gray, The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley, Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts, The Trial by Franz Kafka

Which websites do you visit often (work and/or personal)?
News:

• google.com
• bbc.co.uk
• guardian.co.uk

Dance (Priti) and tennis/soccer (Tahir) videos on

• youtube.com

What advice or quote do you keep close to your heart as a social change leader?
"Instead she took the small budget that she had and thought about how to use it more intelligently. She changed the context of her message. She changed the messenger, and she changed the message itself. She focused her efforts." - from The Tipping Point