PHA-Exchange> Doha, access to medicines and the EU

[Dr. Gopal Dabade]

Doha, access to medicines and the EU
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In a Civil Society Dialogue Meeting with the Trade Commission of the
European Union on the Doha Development Agreement (DDA) Negotiations an
overview and the prospects of the Commission was
given at Brussels on Tuesday 1st July 2003.
(http://trade-info.cec.eu.int/civil_soc/meet.php?action=consult&critere113)

Lead Commission Participant, John Clarke clarified on the issue of Access to
Medicine that within the next seven weeks, before Cancun, USA will recognize
the importance of the Doha Declaration and EU is highly hopeful that the USA
will agree to it.

According to the EU commission, USTR (United States Trade Representative) is
working hard with the US based pharmaceutical industry in trying to convince
them the importance of the Doha Declaration: If there are cheap generics
produced under compulsory licences it is less likely that there would be a
diversion of expensive branded products to rich countries.

When insisted on a question from NGO, if the EU policy would change, as USA
had so far shown only little signs of softening, the Commission replied that
its stand has NOT changed and that it is for
the USA to react positively now and will do so soon.

Reacting on a broad range of issues under the Doha Development Agreement,
the EU commissioner claimed that there is immense degree of confidence that
Cancun rounds of talks will be a great
success and that the media has unfortunately painted the wrong picture. The
EU position can be accessed from the URLs
http://europa.eu.int/comm/trade/issues/newround/doha_da/index_en.htm
http://europa.eu.int/comm/trade/issues/newround/doha_da/cancun/index_en.htm

EU claims there that "Further market access negotiations on services should
bring considerable market opportunities for business as well as benefits to
consumers world-wide". A clear reference to push the controversial GATS
which may allow for the privatisation of public services. So even if the
Commission is pushing for better access to medicines there is a number of
areas of conflict not to speak of the regulations on agricultural trade
which also have an impact on health but are outside the scope of this
message.

Dr Gopal Dabade
BUKO Pharma-Kampagne
August Bebel Str 62
D 33602 Bielefeld
Germany
www.bukopharma.de
info at bukopharma.de
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