Brussels, 29/01/2003 (Agence Europe) - After the unsuccessful meeting in December 2002, multi-lateral discussions on access to medicines began again on Tuesday in Geneva on a European proposal counting on the proposals of consulting the World Health Organisation (WTO) on the seriousness of contagious diseases, for the instant, not very widespread, as well as health need arising in developing countries (see EUROPE 10 January p 7). The 147's reactions have so far been cautious and largely "wait and see". They are due to meet up on 4-5 February in the hope of submitting the possible agreement to the General WTO Council on 10 February.
Discussion also focused on the identification of diseases that are liable to give rise to exemptions to the rules on intellectual property rights in order to allow exports of generic products to countries that have insufficient production capability, the stumbling block in last month's negotiations. The US veto to the consensus, which then dominated, was motivated by the fear that the mechanism could be triggered for not-infectious diseases (asthma, obesity, even impotence). The Commission representative in Geneva, Carlo Trojan, explained that the Europeans had suggested that a list of infectious diseases covered should be drawn up, which could mention 22 of them but which would not be restrictive. Some developing countries, Thailand, South Africa and Chile want to know how useful it would be to appeal to a third institution in this case and Mr Trojan pointed out to them that this would not be a novelty as the WTO had already requested the expertise of other international organisations. He explained that this would involve consultations and the opinion of the WHO but that this would not be binding for the governments concerned. Almost all the speakers recognised that it was an urgent matter to find a multi-lateral solution but some of them, including the USA and Argentina preferred to wait until the main parties involved decided before they did themselves. Therefore the group of African countries (Morocco is its recently new co-ordinator) would give its reaction "later" while Switzerland one of the protagonists in the negotiations was happy to look at the case it declared that they could continue to negotiated around the draft compromise that clashed with the US veto last December or they could propose changes to those of the Europeans or decide at some stage to reconsider the approach. Another important player, Brazil still feared and refused a limited cover, while others requested more explanations but have not ruled out the European proposals (Argentina, South Africa, India, Colombia, Thailand). Others such as Canada, Australia, Hungary, Japan South Korea are speaking of a good basis for getting closer while remaining open to other ideas.