Tackling health emergencies abroad

RAHUL RAJKUMAR focuses on a critical public health issue but dramatically misinterprets intellectual property law and the Central America Free Trade Agreement (''CAFTA will hurt people with HIV," op ed, May 26).

Under CAFTA, countries fully maintain their WTO rights to either produce generic drugs domestically or permit their import to address national public health emergencies, such as HIV/AIDS. And yes, once these drugs are ''produced," patients can use them.

The United States has played a leading role in developing the global consensus that empowers poor countries to both determine health emergencies and to override patents to license drugs to fight epidemics. Data protection is not unprecedented, and is a strong incentive for companies to launch innovative drugs. Global trade rules actually require such protections, and CAFTA's provisions are consistent with that longstanding US and international practice. With similar provisions in the US-Jordan Free Trade Agreement there have been more than 30 new innovative drugs made available to patients in Jordan.

The United States is a leader in the global fight against HIV and AIDS. The president's five-year, $15 billion plan to combat the disease in more than 100 countries around the world is the largest single-nation commitment ever. US trade agreements allow for flexibility in tackling health emergencies while promoting environments that support innovation and the creation of new life-saving drugs.

RICHARD MILLS
Assistant US trade representative for public and media affairs
Washington, D.C.