Third World to win cheaper drugs after US drops opposition

Third World to win cheaper drugs after US drops opposition
By Andrew Gumbel in Los Angeles
29 August 2003


Third world countries were set last night finally to win the right to get anti-Aids, malaria and other vital medicines cheaply.

After two years of disputes the World Trade Organisation was poised to rubber stamp a deal, previously rejected by the United States, ensuring that poorer nations can import affordable generic drugs.

The US and the European Union were however resisting pressure from the big pharmaceutical manufacturers, which were offering key concessions in exchange for the loosening of licensing restrictions.

Under existing WTO rules, countries facing public health crises are prevented from overriding patents on vital drugs and ordering copies from cheap generic suppliers unless they bought from domestic producers. But few developing countries have a domestic pharmaceutical industry.

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/science_medical/story.jsp?story=438107

If Only Americans were so Lucky! :bounce:

http://www.voanews.com/article.cfm?objectID=5B3BB519-77C5-4924-BFDF2A97AF02853E&title=WTO%20Approves%20Deal%20on%20Generic%20Prescription%20Drugs



The World Trade Organization has approved a deal that will allow poor nations to pay less for medicines to treat some of the world's deadliest diseases, such as HIV-AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. The deal ends a dispute which has threatened free trade talks currently under way.

The agreement allows poor countries to get access to patented medications they could not normally afford by allowing them to order cheaper generic drugs from foreign suppliers.

The deal became possible after the United States decided to join 145 other members of the WTO in approving the measure. Washington had rejected the proposal when it first came up in December, largely because of objections by U.S. drug makers. They feared the agreement would allow widespread production of patented drugs like Viagra, the anti-impotence pill.

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Can ya believe this was opposed by the Pharmaceuticals in USA!

that vote on the side of pharma.

:bounce: and they are out for one thing BIG BUCKS!

Be Damn the sick!

Or Maybe we are the Third World Country and they are the Smartest World Country!:bounce: