access to medicine

The poorest nations in the world succeeded in securing a deal to extend the transition period on the implementation of Trade Related Aspects on Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) by eight more ye

New Oxfam report: The proliferation of substandard medicines in poor countries is being used by rich countries as an excuse to tighten intellectual property rules, boosting the profits of large pharmaceutical companies while making it harder for poor people to get access to the medicines they need.

Poor-quality, or “substandard”, medicines threaten patients and public health in developing countries.

As the next round of Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement negotiations get underway this week, Oxfam has called on the negotiating parties to ensure the Agreement does not erect new barriers that prevent generic medicines from reaching poor countries.

Millions of poor people across the globe are facing the prospect of a swine flu pandemic without access to potentially life-saving healthcare.