TORONTO, March 11 (AFP) - An Africa action group founded by U2 frontman Bono has warned Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin that a draft parliamentary bill designed to get cheap generic drugs to poor countries is flawed.

Debt AIDS Trade Africa (DATA) says draft legislation on the issue in the Canadian parliament contains provisions beneficial to brand name drugs firms.

Bono, a long-time campaigner for development causes, said at a convention of Martin's Liberal Party last year that "the world needs more Canada."

But DATA Executive Director Jamie Drummond said in a letter to Martin that "first, the world needs Canada to shoulder its commitments."

"Canada made the solemn millennium promises along with other richer nations to help the poorest help themselves develop," he wrote.

"The richest nations must keep these promises to the poor," said the letter.

DATA warned that the draft legislation in the Canadian parliament allows brand name drugs firms that hold patents the right of first refusal to fill orders for poor countries.

"This would undermine the very purpose of the law, which is to get affordable medicines to the 14 million people who die every year from treatable diseases," the letter said.

A deal was struck last year to change World Trade Organisation rules on intellectual property rights to enable poor countries to import generic prescription drugs they cannot manufacture.

But brand-name drugs companies argue that since they own such rights on drug patents they should be allowed to bid for contracts drawn up by generic drugs companies.

040311
AF040356

©AFP 2004.. All Rights Reserved. AFP articles contained on the AEGiS web site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without AFP's prior written permission. You may make one copy of each article for your personal, non-commercial use only; more copies would require AFP's prior written permission.  http://www.afp.com/

AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted grants from Boehringer Ingelheim, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Bridgestone Firestone Trust Fund and donations from users like you. Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2004. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

©1990, 2004 - AEGiS. AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content.