E-DRUG: MSF on Sydney WTO meeting
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[This is important: WTO has not managed to solve the export problem
for generics to countries that do not (yet) have the capacity to
manufacture essential drugs locally. WB]
Press release (briefing document below):
Ministers put lives at stake in trade-off
M�decins Sans Fronti�res calls for Sydney trade ministers' meeting to
ensure access to affordable generic medicines
Sydney/Geneva, Wednesday 13 November 2002 -- The international medical aid
agency M�decins Sans Fronti�res (MSF, Doctors Without Borders) warns that
World Trade Organization delegates to the Informal Ministerial Meeting in
Sydney must not compromise public health in pursuit of industrialised
country priorities. In particular, MSF urges WTO Members to remove the
restrictions on export of generic medicines.
The Sydney meeting comes just one year after the WTO ministerial meeting in
Doha, Qatar, where countries reinforced the priority of public health over
patents.
"On the anniversary of Doha, the trade ministers' meeting in Sydney is at
risk of compromising these principles," says Ellen 't Hoen of the MSF
Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines. "We fear that policy options
which place significant barriers to access of generic medicines by
developing countries will be promoted."
Infectious diseases kill 15 million people each year. More than 36 million
people living with HIV/AIDS do not have access to the drugs they need, most
of whom live in developing countries. One of the main barriers to access to
medicines in these countries is price.
Quality generic medicines generally cost less than brand-name equivalents,
allowing more people to access treatment. Under the WTO's Trade-Related
Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement, developing
countries with no pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity are allowed to
import generic drugs to meet health needs. Paradoxically, generic producers
are currently restricted in exporting these drugs.
Developing countries and international non-governmental organisations such
as MSF believe that the removal of these export restrictions on generic
producers is a simple, effective solution that balances public health
demands and intellectual property protection in the spirit of the 2001 Doha
meeting.
"Delegates to the Informal Ministerial Meeting must support a permanent
workable solution which removes restrictions on the export of generics,
rather than pursue quick-fix policies that will put access to medicines at
risk," says Ellen 't Hoen.
Expedient trade deals must not come at the expense of human lives.
For comment, call Ellen 't Hoen on ++33-6-223 758 71.
More information on M�decins Sans Fronti�res' Campaign for Access to
Essential Medicines can be found at: www.accessmed-msf.org