– Mr President, on a point of order, when the Commissioner quotes the WHO Essential Medicines' List he knows that includes not just essential medicines, but the affordability of those medicines.

23. Notes that, whilst welcoming the Commission's recognition of the problem and its willingness to adopt short- and long-term measures, there is a need for greater efforts by the Member States, which are increasingly failing to fulfil the international commitment they have given to provide 0.7% of GNP for development, to take specific initiatives within the WHO to add to the essential drugs list and to implement a plan to reduce the cost of drugs; stresses, in this context, the responsibilities of the pharmaceuticals companies; considers that this initiative could include a working group within the WTO on access to medicines, working ...[+++]alongside with the WHO and other international bodies to develop a global strategy;

The drug also does not figure on the WHO list of essential medicines and therefore it is not clear why this would be a preferred drug in its class.

10. Notes that, whilst welcoming the Commission's recognition of the problem and its willingness to adopt short and long term measures, there is a need for greater efforts by the Member States, which are increasingly failing to fulfil the international commitment they have given to provide 0.7% of GNP for development, to take specific initiatives within the World Health Organisation to add to the essential drugs list and to implement a plan to reduce cost of drugs and stresses, in this context, the responsibilities of the pharmaceuticals companies; takes the view that this could include a Working Group within the WTO on Access to Medici ...[+++]nes to work with the WHO and other international bodies to develop a global strategy;

23. Notes that, whilst welcoming the Commission's recognition of the problem and its willingness to adopt short- and long-term measures, there is a need for greater efforts by the Member States, which are increasingly failing to fulfil the international commitment they have given to provide 0.7% of GNP for development, to take specific initiatives within the World Health Organisation to add to the essential drugs list and to implement a plan to reduce cost of drugs, and stresses, in this context, the responsibilities of the pharmaceuticals companies; takes the view that this could include a Working Group within the WTO on Access to Medi ...[+++]cines to work with the WHO and other international bodies to develop a global strategy;

Officials followed up on this request and determined that, in fact, it was listed on the World Health Organization's list of essential medicines, is still under patent in Canada and therefore should be listed on schedule 1.