[e-drug] WHO-WTO study: WTO agreements and Public Health

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E-drug: WHO-WTO study: WTO agreements and Public Health
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http://www.who.int/mediacentre/releases/who64/en/

Geneva
22 August 2002

WTO agreements and Public Health � a joint study by the WHO and the WTO
secretariat

The World Health Organization and the World Trade Organization
Secretariat published today a joint study of the relationship between
trade rules and public health. The 171-page study WTO Agreements and
Public Health explains how WTO Agreements relate to different aspects of
health policies. It is meant to give a better insight into key issues
for those who develop, communicate or debate policy issues related to
trade and health. The study covers areas such as drugs and intellectual
property rights, food safety, tobacco and many other issues which have
been subject to passionate debate. In this joint effort, the first of
its kind, WHO and the WTO Secretariat endeavour to set out the facts.

In their foreword, Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland, WHO Director-General and
Mike Moore, WTO Director-General confirm that "there is much common
ground between trade and health." But they also send the message that
"health and trade policy-makers can benefit from closer cooperation to
ensure coherence between their different areas of responsibilities."

The study explains that countries have the right to take measures to
restrict imports or exports of products when this is necessary to
protect the health of humans, animals or plants. When liberalizing
services, they retain the right to regulate in order to meet national
policy objectives, in areas such as health. Eight specific health issues
are covered - infectious disease control, food safety, tobacco,
environment, access to drugs, health services, food security as well as
some emerging issues, such as biotechnology � and, in each case,
examples of challenges and opportunities in implementing coherent trade
and health policies are provided..

"WTO Agreements are sensitive to health issues. In fact, health concerns
can take precedence over trade issues. If necessary, governments may put
aside WTO commitments in order to protect human life. And, according to
WTO jurisprudence, human health has been recognized as being 'important
in the highest degree,'" concludes Miguel Rodr�guez Mendoza, Deputy
Director-General and the principal coordinator for the WTO.

"Good public policy must be based on sound evidence", adds Dr Andrew
Cassels, Director of WHO�s Strategy Unit. "This study highlights areas
where trade and health linkages deserve more careful analysis. It also
highlights benefits that are possible when trade and health officials
work closely together."

For more information contact:

Communications Office
Telephone: (+41 22) 791 2222
Fax: (+41 22) 791 4858
Email: mediainquiries@who.int




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