Brazil and AIDS drugs A cure for high prices

摘要

Jose serra, Brazil's health minister, this week took his battle against the United States and multinational drug firms over phamaceutical patents to the World Health Organisation's annual assembly in Geneva. At the assembly, which runs until May 22nd, Mr Serra was due to propose a vote condemning the use of trade agreements to obstruct poor countries' access to cheap medicines. This is aimed at the United States, which in January, at the multinationals' urging, complained to the World Trade Organisation (wto) about Brazil's patent law. Brazil claims that the involvement of the wto threatens the country's widely praised programme for the prevention and treatment of aids.