The World Health Organization (WHO) said it would look at whether the international drug patent system prevents developing countries from obtaining needed medicines, vaccines and diagnostic tests. The 192 WHO members agreed at an annual meeting in Geneva to launch an intergovernmental group to look for gaps in medical research and development, and draw up a global strategy to ensure the health needs of poor people are met. The report, commissioned by the WHO in 2003, did not call for a weakening of patent rights but urged big companies to reduce the price of medicines sold to developing countries and to avoid filing for patent protection there.
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