Cheap drugs: new stops

WTO took an important step toward liberalization of patent rules. It will allow poor countries to buy and produce cheaper versions of the most effective drugs to fight serious diseases. However, after it was announced new delays in the negotiating process.

On Thursday in Geneva at the meeting of the WTO Council on Intellectual Property was approved by the compromise agreement between the United States and four developing countries. However, a few hours later learned that the WTO General Council, which has the final decision postponed resolution of the issue, citing the need for further consultations.

Until recently, the main obstacle was the position of the United States, claimed that the refusal of the patent would undermine the position of the major pharmaceutical companies working on the development of new drugs.

For many effective drugs patents are 20 years old, that prohibits copying in the form of cheaper, "vendor" forms. The very principle that developing countries could have access to cheap drugs against AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis and other serious diseases, was developed two years ago.

However, the details of its accuracy is very slow. Thus, in December, the United States blocked a draft agreement, saying it allows out under the patent laws too many drugs-for example, drugs for non-communicable diseases such as diabetes or asthma.

Now, apparently, Washington agreed to lift their objections if WTO members promise not to abuse the new rules and will be used to manufacture drugs vnepatentnomu "for higher-order" and not for commercial gain. Developing countries are also expected to take measures that will prevent a cheaper form of drugs entering the markets of rich countries. Formally, the agreement must be approved by the WTO General Council.

Will easier?

Large pharmaceutical companies welcomed the compromise. "The text of this agreement is to focus the discussion needs most disadvantaged, and this is critical," said chairman of the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Association Harvey Bailey.

Nevertheless, representatives of non-governmental organizations believe that the new document Third World country spreading a dense network of reservations and conditions, and in practice does not help the situation to treat severe disease. "The agreement will be disastrous for poor people around the world," said a major British charity Oxfam. - The text of too many bureaucratic tricks and mass constraints. "

African activists said that the United States did influence of the countries of the Third World to the signing of the agreement, which still leaves prices for medicines unacceptably high. Critically listened to the results of the Geneva meeting, representatives of India, producing many copies of drugs. "The new policy infested barriers, which will make copies of more expensive than necessary," Reuters quoted D. D. Shah, Secretary General, Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance.

Representatives of large companies explain the need for stringent patent restrictions increasing cost of research prior to creating highly drugs. According to them, pharmaceutical companies, primarily businesses, bound to balance the costs of manufacturing drugs with the proceeds of their sale.

If income for the influx of cheaper versions will go down sharply, it will be bad and shareholders, and patients are still awaiting the appearance of miracle drugs of various diseases.