Dhaka working in WTO HQ for extension of TRIPS deadline

The country's officials are informally working in the Geneva headquarters of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to get extended period of manufacturing pharmaceutical products without paying royalty under the WTO transitional period.
The WTO's TRIPs clause allows Bangladesh to manufacture patented and patent-expired generics drugs till December 31, 2015 which is to expire next year.
As the transitional period has helped the industry to grow and for its further development both in local and export markets, the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) is coordinating with the LDC group and the WTO headquarters.
Mahbub Ahmed, Secretary of the ministry said, "We are continuously in touch with other least developed country members and with the WTO headquarters informally."
At the end of the current year or early next year, there would be formal efforts in coordination with the LDC members of the WTO, he said.
Mr. Ahmed said, "We along with all the LDC members would create pressure on the WTO so that that it might accept our demands and extend the time."
Another official in the ministry said the WTO has already extended the general transitional period under the TRIPs till 2021 but for pharmaceuticals there is a special transitional period which is yet to be extended.
The official, referring to the commercial counsellor who is working in Geneva, said informally Bangladesh is arranging seminars and symposiums in the WTO headquarters and creating awareness about importance of drug affordability among the low income people.
He said among the LDC member-countries Bangladesh could only flourish pharmaceutical industry although the scenario is still alarming among other LDCs.
He said so it is the demand from the LDC group and it would create pressure on the WTO to extend time so that people may get drugs at affordable prices.
The Commerce Secretary said before expiry of the existing transitional period next year, there would be a coordinated effort by the LDC member countries to the WTO for extending the time.
According to a stakeholder, Bangladesh may not be affected after the expiry of the transitional period as the industry is already matured and is manufacturing world standard pharmaceutical products.
He said if time is not extended, Bangladesh may have to pay royalty against manufacture of the still patented generic drugs.
As per current statistics, he said the number of patented products is not much more and if necessary, it would not harm the sector despite making payment to the patented company due to growth of both local and export markets.