9 November 2001
Doha, Qatar, 9-13 November 2001

Globalization, TRIPS and access to medicines

by DR GRO HARLEM BRUNDTLAND,

In recent years, World Trade Organization (WTO) Members have given
increased attention to the issue of intellectual property and access to
medicines. Indeed, this is the first time in the 50-year history of the
multilateral trading system that a separate ministerial declaration is
being considered on intellectual property and public health issues. The
Doha Ministerial Conference is providing a historic opportunity for WTO
Members to ensure that the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of
Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) does not stand in the way of access
to life-saving medicines, especially in the poorest countries.

Continuing innovation is essential: this requires both incentives to
invest in research on the diseases that drive poverty, and protection
provided by international agreements on intellectual property.

The issue of patent protection for pharmaceutical products is an area
where a fine balance needs to be struck between providing incentives for
future inventions of new medicines and ensuring affordable access to
existing medicines. In an effort to focus more systematically on the
promotion of public health, WTO Members have worked on consensus-building
efforts to reach common understanding on the safeguards and flexibility
within the TRIPS Agreement. This will enable Members to have the sense of
security and legal certainty in utilising the TRIPS flexibility. Clarity
on this flexibility would allow Members to formulate public health
policies in ways that do not infringe the rights of patent holders.

Access to health care is a human right and we all have an obligation to
see this right progressively realized. This involves access to health
facilities, prevention, care, treatment and support, and - of course -
access to life-saving medicines. At the beginning of this 21st century,
one-third of the world's population still lacks access to the medicines
needed for good health. WHO recognises that this access to essential drugs
depends on wise selection and use of medicines; sustainable and adequate
financing; affordable prices; and reliable health and supply systems.
Much has been achieved during the last two decades. Yet many millions of
people still cannot get the medicines and vaccines they need at an
affordable price.

The stakes are high: the lives and well-being of millions will be
affected as a result of WTO Members reconciling their divergent views and
positions, and formulating an agreed Ministerial Declaration on the issues
surrounding intellectual property and public health/access to medicines.

* DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

Computerized inquiry counter in High Courts

New Delhi, November 8 2001

The Centre has released Rs. 10 lakhs each for setting up of Computerized Facilitation Inquiry Counter in the High Courts of Assam, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Mizoram Orissa, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu and Uttaranchal in the current financial year. Besides funds have been released to the State Governments and Union Territories for development of information technology in the courts. These include construction of facilitation and inquiry counters in High Courts as well. Computerized Facilitation and Inquiry Counters have already been set up in most of the High Courts. Such counters are in the process of being set up in High Courts of Allahabad, Chattisgarh, Madras, Orissa, Patna. Jharkhand and Uttaranchal. The Centre has been sending periodical reminders to the States in this regard.
The Centre has advised all the High Courts to set up computerized inquiry counters for the convenience of the general litigating public. They have also been requested to intimate the expenditure involved in the setting up of such counters so that the amount provided under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for augmentation of judiciary in the States and Union Territories could be released to them.

Middle East Organisations Can Set-up An European Office Online.

Frankfurt, Germany - 9 November 2001 (PRN): To foreign companies interested
in doing business with Germany or other European countries but wanting to
minimize the risks and costs involved, the EXECUTIVE OFFICE CENTER
FRANKFURT (EOCF) offers:

· Virtual offices: i.e. the company gets the use of an attractive business
address in Frankfurt, an own telephone number, telephone answering under
the company's name, fax-, mail- and courier service, forwarding of mail
and messages, assisting with various other matters according to the
client‘s instructions - all this without even having to go to Germany. The
whole package costs only Euro 250 per month. (The utilisation of only the
address and mail service would cost just Euro 150 per month.)

· And in case of occasional business trips to Germany the client can rent a
fully-equipped day office or meeting room at the EOCF even on an hourly or
daily basis.

· In the meantime the EOCF can act as the client‘s German liaison office.
This way the client will not lose any business just because his customers
have no one to contact in Germany. Charges are only for the time actually
spent which is much more cost-effective than hiring a full-time
multilingual secretary.

· The EOCF also offers combinations of Virtual Offices in Frankfurt and/or
London, Madrid, New York, Paris, Prague or Tokyo for an additional service
charge of starting from only Euro 150 per month !

· And if, as the next step, the client needs an actual office in Frankfurt
for a more permanent presence in Germany, he can rent a furnished office in
the EOCF WITHOUT real estate agents' fees or long-term commitments. He can
move into his office and start working right away, and still remains
flexible because there is a notice period of only 3 months. Therefore, if
he decides that the German business is not developing as he wishes he can
close his office on short notice without any trouble.

· The price of an actual office (from Euro 875/month) includes all
maintenance costs like heating, water, cleaning etc. The client will have
his own ISDN telephone, internet connections, and he can use all the
facilities of the big office, e.g. fax, copier, kitchen etc. The EOCF
offers fully-equipped offices for 1 to 10 persons.

· The EOCF also offers conference and meeting rooms for up to 24 persons
which can be rented by the hour or day even without renting an office.

· The location is extremely convenient: next to Frankfurt Central Train
Station, 15 minutes to the International Airport by subway or taxi, and in
walking distance from banks, hotels, restaurants and the International
Frankfurt Trade Fair grounds.