In a related story carried in the List?n Diario, Infadom,
\nthe pharmaceutical manufacturers? association, says that a free trade agreement
\nwith the United States puts them at risk. Ostensibly, the manufacture of
\npharmaceuticals is protected by Law 20-00, but the law has not been put into
\neffect because of pressures from the United States.
\nInfadom also complains that the current visit of the negotiating team marks the
\nfifth time the team has carried out talks on a possible FTA ? without once
\nconsulting the local pharmaceutical industry.
\nBloomberg news service reports that the US is imposing new conditions on poorer
\ncountries before Washington allows them to produce generic drugs to fight AIDS,
\nmalaria and other illnesses. This information comes from several international
\naid agencies, including the well-reputed Oxfam organization. The US was the only
\ncountry to oppose an agreement to supply essential medicines to poor countries.
\nWashington says that overseas pharmaceutical companies could pass over the
\nmedical patents held by companies like Pfizer and Merck for products that treat
\nobesity and baldness, as well as those products that treat the major diseases
\naffecting humankind today. M?decins sans Fronti?res and Third World Network have
\njoined in the complaint. The Coctelera column in today?s Hoy newspaper also
\nechoes Infadom?s point of view.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In a related story carried in the List?n Diario, Infadom, the pharmaceutical manufacturers? association, says that a free trade agreement with the United States puts them at risk. Ostensibly, the manufacture of pharmaceuticals is protected by Law 20-00, but the law has not been put into effect because of pressures from the United States. Infadom … <\/p>\n