Cheap drugs for the poor

last updated 8 January 2015

Geneva

After hearing desperate pleas from African diplomats, the World Trade Organization agreed this week to provide poor countries with inexpensive versions of patented drugs for AIDS and other diseases. African representatives gave a joint statement pointing out that more than 2 million Africans had died for lack of treatment since last December, when the drug issue became deadlocked at the WTO. The U.S., the leader among countries concerned about protecting patent rights, reversed course and agreed to allow the use of generics, with certain restrictions aimed at preventing resale of the cheap drugs in Western nations. Kenyan Ambassador Amina Chawahir Mohamed called the agreement “especially good news for the people of Africa.”