[Ip-health] IOL: WHO to examine drug patent system

[Manon Ress]

WHO to examine drug patent system
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?
set_id=1&click_id=31&art_id=qw1148805181205B243

     May 28 2006 at 10:55AM
Geneva - The World Health Organisation said on Saturday it would
examine whether the international drug patent system prevents
developing countries from obtaining needed medicines, vaccines and
diagnostic tests.

Spurred on by Brazil and Kenya, the 192 WHO members agreed at an
annual meeting in Geneva to launch an intergovernmental group to look
for gaps in medical research and development, and draw up a global
strategy to ensure the health needs of poor people are met.

The WHO said the group would integrate the findings of an April
report by former Swiss President Ruth Dreifuss, which criticised the
existing drug development, marketing and pricing system, saying it
largely neglected the poor.

The report, commissioned by the WHO in 2003, did not call for a
weakening of patent rights but urged big companies to reduce the
price of medicines sold to developing countries and to avoid filing
for patent protection there.

The WHO said the new group, open to all interested countries, would
pay particular attention to whether research investment matched
health needs, including diseases common to poor countries such as
Aids, malaria and tuberculosis.

Ellen 't Hoen of the Medicines Sans Frontieres campaign for access to
essential medicines described the WHO announcement as a "breakthrough
agreement" which she said could lead to better access to drugs for
millions of people.

"The current system that is based on patents and high drug prices as
the way to finance research and development leaves huge health needs
unmet, particularly in developing countries," she said.

The push toward needs-driven health research "will ensure that
patients' needs - and not simply profits - drive medical innovation,"
she added.

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Manon Anne Ress
manon.ress@cptech.org,
www.cptech.org

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