Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2005. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Associated Press - December 12, 2005
Helen Luk, Associated Press Writer
The criticism came despite the WTO's move last week to improve access to cheaper medicine in developing countries by amending its intellectual property agreement. The change allows poor nations to import copies of patented drugs if they lack the capacity to manufacture them.
But the French aid group -- known as Doctors Without Borders in English -- said the WTO's patent rules prevent China from producing generic copycat versions of many AIDS drugs.
"There is a glaring lack of evidence that the measures proposed by the WTO would actually resolve the difficulties we are facing. Not even one patient has benefited from its use," said Ellen 't Hoen, who directs the group's campaign for access to essential medicines.
"It seems that the WTO has decided to sacrifice access to medicines before the Hong Kong meeting, settling for inadequate measures simply to get it off the agenda," she said.
WTO members have set Dec. 1, 2007, as a deadline to ratify the amendment. It would need to be approved by two-thirds of the 149 members. The waiver remains in force until then.
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