EU to improve Third World access to cheap medicines

BRUSSELS – The European Union plans to help makers of generic drugs sell low-cost AIDS drugs to poor countries, along with medicines to fight deadly diseases such as tuberculosis and malaria, the EU’s trade chief said on Friday.

Under a proposal by the bloc’s executive Commission, EU companies would be allowed to produce patented medicines for export to Third World countries in need of a particular drug. The aim is to reduce the price of some key pharmaceutical products in developing countries by up to 98 per cent, it says.”There has been a big reduction in price for AIDS drugs over the last few years but it’s still very expensive for developing countries,” EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy said.”We feel this is a question of principle,” he told a news conference.”We’ve been in close co-operation with the European pharmaceutical industry on this issue.”He cited AIDS as a prime example of where Third World states might benefit from more access to cheap medicines.The Commission has allocated more than 1,1 billion euros over the 2003-2006 period to fight AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis – three diseases that kill some six million people a year, particularly in the world’s poorest countries.EU pharmaceutical companies which wanted to export medicines to the Third World would apply to their national authorities for a “compulsory licence” from a patent holder who held exclusive rights over the production and sale of a specific product.The Commission’s proposal, which must be approved by EU governments and the European Parliament, is Europe’s response to a 2003 deal reached by the World Trade Organisation.The 148-member trade group agreed to find a solution to give Third World states with no manufacturing capacity the chance to receive generic medicines from other countries.-Nampa-ReutersThe aim is to reduce the price of some key pharmaceutical products in developing countries by up to 98 per cent, it says.”There has been a big reduction in price for AIDS drugs over the last few years but it’s still very expensive for developing countries,” EU Trade Commissioner Pascal Lamy said.”We feel this is a question of principle,” he told a news conference.”We’ve been in close co-operation with the European pharmaceutical industry on this issue.”He cited AIDS as a prime example of where Third World states might benefit from more access to cheap medicines.The Commission has allocated more than 1,1 billion euros over the 2003-2006 period to fight AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis – three diseases that kill some six million people a year, particularly in the world’s poorest countries.EU pharmaceutical companies which wanted to export medicines to the Third World would apply to their national authorities for a “compulsory licence” from a patent holder who held exclusive rights over the production and sale of a specific product.The Commission’s proposal, which must be approved by EU governments and the European Parliament, is Europe’s response to a 2003 deal reached by the World Trade Organisation.The 148-member trade group agreed to find a solution to give Third World states with no manufacturing capacity the chance to receive generic medicines from other countries.-Nampa-Reuters

In an age of information overload, Sunrise is The Namibian’s morning briefing, delivered at 6h00 from Monday to Friday. It offers a curated rundown of the most important stories from the past 24 hours – occasionally with a light, witty touch. It’s an essential way to stay informed. Subscribe and join our newsletter community.

The Namibian uses AI tools to assist with improved quality, accuracy and efficiency, while maintaining editorial oversight and journalistic integrity.