• To ensure that public health, rather than commercial interests have primacy in pharmaceutical and health policies and to review their options under the Trade Related aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement to safeguard access to essential drugs.
• To assist member states in analyzing the pharmaceutical and public health implications of agreements overseen by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and to develop appropriate policies and regulatory measures.

These two particular clauses irked the rich north block and the strong pharmaceutical industry lobby. While the United States and some other governments, including Germany, opposed the clauses, African countries and health activist groups decided to support the resolutions. In order to avoid public squabble, it was decided that a special group would prepare a compromise resolution for the WHA. However, despite negotiating for 20 hours over 5 days, the group failed to reach a consensus. WHA referred the draft back to the Executive Board and thus the issue was left for discussion in the next year. Even this decision was passed by 29 votes in favor and 18 against. African nations complained that there was lack of quorum during voting.
It is a matter of serious concern that the premier global health forum is still dithering over prioritizing public health safeguards over commercial interests. Developing countries have already started suffering due to the system whereby prices of drugs are escalating rapidly.
In this issue we have tried to place the drug price escalation scenario in India in perspective. The Government, which is the largest single buyer in the country, has not taken effective steps to check upwardly spiraling drug prices. Unlike the developed countries, the Indian Government has not even tried to bargain with the industry in a coherent manner to ensure supply of drugs at uniform and reasonable rates. Purchases by the central government, state governments and defense organizations are made without inter-agency coordination. With its limited capacity an organization like CDMU can negotiate drug prices directly with manufacturers and ensure that they supply drugs at prices at least 30% lower than market rates. Why can’t the Indian government take a concerted approach and not backtrack on its own resolutions? We are also eagerly waiting to see that WHO overcomes the pressure from vested multinational industry interests and prioritizes public health goals over commercial considerations.
Amitava Guha

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