E-drug: Remember the WHO on scope of diseases
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As I write this the US delegation continues to push for a further
limitation of the scope of diseases in Geneva. Even though the Doha
declaration is very clear on this and talks about "WTO Members' right to
protect public health and, in particular, to promote access to medicines
for all".
The reason why the Doha declaration is so clear about this issue is because
is was discussed in great detail in Doha and developing countries did not
want to compromise on the scope.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has been clear on the scope of diseases
as well. The following is from the statement made by the WHO to the WTO
Council for TRIPS, 16 September 2002:
"...the features of a solution to the so-called "paragraph 6 problem" which
are desirable from a public health perspective...include ... broad coverage
in terms of health problems and the range of medicines.
Perhaps the DG of the WTO should ask the WHO whether there is a public
health rational to exclude certain patients, diseases, medicines or vaccines
from a policy that aims to increase access to medicines for all.
Ellen 't Hoen
Ellen F.M. 't Hoen LL.M.
Medicins sans Frontieres
Access to Essential Medicines Campaign
8, rue Saint - Sabin
75544 Paris cedex 11
France
tel: + 33 1 4021 2836
fax: + 33 1 40212962
e-mail: ellen.t.hoen@paris.msf.org
www.accessmed-msf.org
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