BRUSSELS, Nov 19, 2007 (AFP) - The European Union on Monday adopted a WTO initiative to improve access for the world's poorest people to cheaper drugs against diseases such as HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis.
"Health is an essential component of the UN's millennium development goals and therefore one of the main priorities of the EU development policy," European foreign ministers, meeting in Brussels, said in a statement.
"The EU is firmly committed to ensure that in particular least-developed countries have access to essential medicines at the lowest possible prices, in particular in their fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria," they added.
The World Trade Organisation agreement, reached in December 2005, modified an agreement on trade-related aspects of intellectual property rights (TRIPS).
The deal allows poor nations to import, under certain conditions, cheaper generic versions of patented medicines.
However the TRIPS agreement will not enter into force until two-thirds of the 151 WTO members have ratified it.
Before the EU ministers meeting, only a dozen countries had ratified the measure, including India, Japan and the United States.
Several charities last week accused rich countries of undermining the World Trade Organisation agreement.
071119
AF071133
Copyright ©AFP 2007. All Rights Reserved. AFP articles contained on the AEGiS web site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without AFP's prior written permission. You may make one copy of each article for your personal, non-commercial use only; more copies would require AFP's prior written permission obtained from the owners of any trademarks or copyrighted materials whose marks and materials are included in AFP photos or materials. Therefore you will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary releases from whatever individuals and/or entities necessary for any uses of AFP stories, photos or graphics. http://www.afp.com/
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted grants from Boehringer Ingelheim, Bridgestone/Firestone Charitable Trust, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Elton John AIDS Foundation, John M. Lloyd Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Roche and Trimeris, and donations from users like you. Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2007. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 2007. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content.