Recently, WHO and WTO jointly hosted a meeting in Norway to discuss differential pricing and how differential pricing can lead to affordable prices. We think that this meeting has failed to achieve any concrete results as yet. Yes, differential pricing is important but only as a part of a more comprehensive system that includes generic competition, pooled procurement and distribution, local production through voluntary licensing, technology transfer, and donor support. In short, medicines will not be made affordable through one single strategy. Rather, a combination of mutually supportive measures is required.
Drug prices is another area requiring WHO's clear leadership and support to the member countries.
We applaud WHO's effort to strengthen the essential drugs list by reviewing and revising the procedures involved in its development. The Essential Drugs List remains one of the most important public health tools. We welcome this initiative to make the Essential Drugs List more inclusive, transparent, and to ensure that safe and effective drugs are not excluded on the basis of their cost alone. As we speak, Mr. Chairman, thousands of patients are dying in the developing countries for want of treatment. In many cases the treatments are available.