Drugs for poor nations: US climbs down

The United States has clarified that it is not trying to exclude countries like India, Brazil and China from producing and supplying pharmac...

The United States has clarified that it is not trying to exclude countries like India, Brazil and China from producing and supplying pharmaceutical products, patented elsewhere, to nations with low manufacturing capacities during emergencies.

Replying to questions at a press conference here on Tuesday, assistant US trade representative (USTR)for South Asia Ashley Wills said while the US recognises that the three countries are large producers of both generic and patented medicines, there is no question of excluding them as potential sources of cheap medicines for countries with low manufacturing capacities. This clarification sets at rest the apprehensions of the domestic pharma industry that fears that the US may attempt to modify the draft TRIPs & public health agreement in a way that will disallow certain countries like India from exporting patented medicines.

According to the draft agreement circulated by the TRIPs council on December 16 last, countries with insufficient manufacturing capacities should be allowed to buy patented drugs from non-patent holding manufacturers in other nations to tide over emergencies.

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According to the TRIPs agreement, while countries can issue compulsory licences for producing patented drugs to non-patent holding domestic manufacturers during emergencies, these medicines cannot be exported. The provision of TRIPs and public health was incorporated during the Doha ministerial to address the problems of countries with insufficient manufacturing capacities.

While all the countries gave their approval to the December 16 draft, US is the only country opposing it and trying to limit the scope of the agreement. Although, US pharma industry has finally climbed down from its stand of limiting the number of diseases to be covered under the pact it is yet to approve it. “Our only concern is that medicines meant for specific countries should not be diverted to other markets,” he said. On the issue of agriculture, he said although the US agenda is ambitious it is prepared to listen to other countries before deciding a final stand on the issue.