2014
Public action targeting Gilead
At the 49th International Liver Conference (EASL), MdM, TAG and INPUD held a demonstration in the main hall to raise the issue of access to hepatitis C treatment in low and middle-income countries. Their protest targeted Gilead whose recently-approved direct-acting antiviral, Sovaldi, was sold for USD $84,000. Symbolically, activists lay dead under golden blankets while others distributed golden pills representing Solvaldi, which Gilead sells for USD $1,000 per pill.
Outcomes
While public actions targeting « big pharma » are common at international AIDS conference, it was the first time ever a demonstration was organized by civil society organisations at EASL. It was also new for the participants – many of them are doctors from low and middle-income countries, who supported the stunt.
Personal involvement
Graphic Design of the visuals (posters and banner), organization of the demonstration, dissemination among various international activist network of this public action.
2016
Hepatitis C: no more treatment rationing; universal access to generic medicines everywhere!
Two years after, EASL was held in Barcelona. A demonstration gathering international organizations but also Spanish patient group is held in front of the conference venue. Again the message put the stress on the need for affordable hepatitis C treatment, knowing that in Spain treatment rationing is particularly strict.
Outcomes
The demonstration gather several hundreds of persons and was supported by more than 20 organizations. A press release, in Spanish, english and French was sent.
Personal involvement
Graphic design of the posters and the banners, coordination of the public action, co-writting of the press release.
