The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed its happiness over the consensus reached by members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) on the issue of access to medicines by countries with little or insufficient capacity for pharmaceutical production. In a statement, it has urged the member States to consider using to the full the TRIPS flexibilities with regard to the protection of public health.

The agreement covers all medicines. Among the diseases that could be more effectively tackled as a result of this decision are AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, the statement noted.

It said that WHO would work with the countries which could make use of the new arrangements to assist them to achieve the full public health benefit from the lower prices. "Given the urgency of the health needs in the poorest countries, the work to implement this agreement must proceed as quickly as possible. The full impact of the agreement will depend on how effectively it can be implemented in countries," it said.

WHO felt that for the agreement to have the intended impact on public health, countries will need to review the full range of medicines required from multiple suppliers, including generic producers, when making purchasing decisions.