Drug Firms Accused of Victimizing Poor
The British charity Oxfam accused the global pharmaceutical industry and rich governments of waging “an undeclared drugs war” against poor countries.
It said developing countries must be allowed to make copies of drugs to treat AIDS, respiratory infections and childhood diarrhea.
Oxfam said trade laws on patents raise drug prices, restrict access to vital medicines and widen the health gap between rich and poor.
The accusation follows the establishment of a World Trade Organization dispute panel to examine a U.S. complaint over Brazilian law, which allows local companies to produce patented drugs in certain cases.
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