OXFAM blames rich states for suspension of world trade talk
Pti, New Delhi
Blaming rich nations for the suspension of world trade talks, international civil society group OXFAM has sought urgent action by member countries to revive the Doha round, saying adhering nations like India and Kenya are bearing the brunt."Urgent action is needed.... The prevalence of debilitating and life threatening diseases to poor countries is growing but medicines are simply not available", OXFAM said in a report on the occasion of five years of Doha declaration. "Five years ago, WTO members signed a ministerial agreement to ensure that Intellectual Property rules would no longer obstruct developing countries' efforts to protect public health", it said, adding things have, however, changed little since then. OXFAM observed that patented medicines continue to be priced out of reach for the world's poorest people and trade rules remained a major barrier to accessing affordable versions of patented medicines (generic medicines). It observed that "countries which remain firm in their commitments like Kenya and India are threatened by external pressures".
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