Talks in Geneva to try and ensure that resource limited countries can obtain access to cheap, generic versions of essential medication to treat HIV have broken down without agreement.
Twelve months ago it seemed that a deal hammered out at the World Trade Organisation (WTO) would relax the TRIPS intellectual property rights which protect drug company patents by allowing countries to obtain generic versions of essential medication in the event of a “health emergency.”
However, defining just which countries and in what circumstances poor and middle income countries can break international copyright has proved hard to settle. Some African countries have accused WTO negotiators of “moving the goal posts.”
The right of countries which lack pharmaceutical production facilities to import generic drugs from middle income countries such as Brazil is proving a sticking point in the negotiations. Officials at the WTO have said that they are hopeful of reaching agreement before the talk deadline at the end of the year.