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Anthrax fear could mild the US position on patenting
The global anthrax fear has emboldened many developing countries, including India, to put pressure on the United States of America to soften its stand on the Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) in regard to the drug patenting rules that concern the health of millions of poor in the third world.
The global anthrax fear has emboldened many developing countries, including India, to put pressure on the United States of America to soften its stand on the Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) in regard to the drug patenting rules that concern the health of millions of poor in the third world.
Although US trade representative Robert Zoellick denied any direct link between the anthrax fears and some perceived concessions being worked out, more so for the least developed countries (LDCs), trade observers point out the developing nations have become more vocal against the US for its insistence on a harsh patent regime for drugs and medicines.
The health activists gathered in Doha point to the sheer hypocrisy of the US position, given recent efforts by top health officials to break the patent monopoly on Bayer's anthrax drug Cipro, in the wake of a domestic anthrax threat. ''Poor countries losing more than 8,000 people daily to untreated Aids must be allowed the same authority as the us to demand access to affordable, life-saving drugs,'' said Sharonann Lynch of Health Gap Coalition, an NGO.
In his media briefing, Zoellick said an additional 10 years could be given to the LDCs for falling in line with the TRIPs regime. Trade sources point out the concession has got to do with the anthrax-related fears as much as an incentive to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) for coming on board the new round of trade negotiations.
However, the apparent concessions on TRIPs do not really promise much for India and other developing nations since it was only for the LDCs that the moratorium was being extended from 2006 to 2016.
Bureau Report
The health activists gathered in Doha point to the sheer hypocrisy of the US position, given recent efforts by top health officials to break the patent monopoly on Bayer's anthrax drug Cipro, in the wake of a domestic anthrax threat. ''Poor countries losing more than 8,000 people daily to untreated Aids must be allowed the same authority as the us to demand access to affordable, life-saving drugs,'' said Sharonann Lynch of Health Gap Coalition, an NGO.
In his media briefing, Zoellick said an additional 10 years could be given to the LDCs for falling in line with the TRIPs regime. Trade sources point out the concession has got to do with the anthrax-related fears as much as an incentive to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) for coming on board the new round of trade negotiations.
However, the apparent concessions on TRIPs do not really promise much for India and other developing nations since it was only for the LDCs that the moratorium was being extended from 2006 to 2016.
Bureau Report