India and the European Union (EU) are in the midst of negotiating a Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement-a market-opening pact that could vastly expand trade between the two in goods, services, and investments. The ambitious deal-in-the-making, however, has come under intense scrutiny for its potentially adverse effect on the health of millions in India and across the developing world. Whatever the final shape the proposed free-trade agreement (FTA) between India and the EU takes, the ongoing closed-door negotiations have fired up the debate about trade, medical innovation, and public health. Since negotiations kicked off in 2007, protest marches, press conferences, and social media activism have whipped up pressure within and outside India, galvanising the public health community into flagging their two most pressing concerns-access to affordable drugs and access to information.
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