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Ellen F. M. 't Hoen (born 1960) is an international medical activist. She is an expert in medicines policy and intellectual property law and has been a consultant to a number of countries and international organisations. In 2005 and 2006 she was listed as one of the 50 most influential people in intellectual property in the world by the journal ''Managing Intellectual Property''. 't Hoen trained as a lawyer – earning a master's degree from Amsterdam University – and a social worker. However, she has spent the main part of her professional life as an activist for patients rights and more equitable pharmaceutical policies. She won several awards for her work on the effects of exposure to the drug
diethylstilbestrol Diethylstilbestrol (DES), also known as stilbestrol or stilboestrol, is a nonsteroidal estrogen medication, which is presently rarely used. In the past, it was widely used for a variety of indications, including pregnancy support for those with a ...
(DES) in the 1980s and 1990s, including the prestigious Harriet Freezerring award in 1989. In 1981 she co-founded DES Action the Netherlands. In 1990 she joined
Health Action International Health Action International (HAI) is a non-profit organization based in The Netherlands. Established in 1981, HAI works to expand access to essential medicines through research, policy analysis and intervention projects. The organization focuse ...
to head the policy and campaigns unit. From 1996 until 1999 she was the international coordinator of the independent medicines journal ''La Revue Prescrire/Prescrire International'' and the International Society of Drug Bulletins (ISDB). She joined
Médecins sans Frontières (MSF; pronounced ), also known as Doctors Without Borders, is a humanitarian medical non-governmental organisation (NGO) or charity of French origin known for its projects in conflict zones and in countries affected by endemic diseases. ...
in 1999. Until end 2008 't Hoen was the policy and advocacy director of the Médecins sans Frontières' campaign for the access to essential medicines. At the 61st
World Health Assembly The World Health Assembly (WHA) is the forum through which the World Health Organization (WHO) is governed by its 194 member states. It is the world's highest health policy setting body and is composed of health ministers from member states. ...
in 2008, 't Hoen coined the phrase "
pharma fraud Pharma fraud is a term to describe several illegal activities involving the manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of pharmaceuticals. History Because of a lack of regulation and enforcement, the quality, safety and efficacy of both imported a ...
" for use in discussions and resolutions involving illegal activities in the manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of pharmaceuticals. Until May 1, 2012, 't Hoen was the first executive director of the Medicines Patent Pool, co-founded by UNITAID. She is currently also a research fellow at the University of Amsterdam doing research on the implementation of the Doha Declaration on TRIPS and Public Health.


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* {{DEFAULTSORT:Hoen, Ellen T 1960 births Living people Dutch health and wellness writers Health activists People from Heerlen Date of birth missing (living people)