January 11, 2003	Saturday	Ziqa'ad 7, 1423

BRUSSELS: The European Union is proposing to bring in the World Health Organisation to resurrect a plan to supply cheap drugs to the developing world — scuppered by America last month.

The World Trade Organisation’s 144 member countries failed to reach an agreement on providing drugs to poor countries last month despite a commitment to do so by Dec 31. The intention was to reach a global deal granting poor nations exemptions from patent laws so they could import low-cost generic drugs.

The moves were intended to deal with diseases such as malaria, Aids and tuberculosis, but Washington was concerned that developing countries were trying to get less essential medicines exempted, to the detriment of US pharmaceutical companies.

Frustrated by long negotiations, the US opted for a temporary, unilateral solution. It pledged not to challenge poor countries who import generic drugs for the most serious diseases. In doing so it blocked a global deal. Negotiations are due to resume next month.—Dawn/The Guardian News Service.