Fury over generic drugs allowed to treat the killer disease Anthrax but denied to third world countries has prompted residents in Wandsworth to protest and Putney MP Tony Colman to back calls for action.

Amita Aria, 34, of Upper Richmond Road, Putney and her friend Karen Maddocks, 26, of Leopold Road, Wimbledon, who works for the Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) group in Putney, were among 5,000 people taking part in the Trade Justice Parade through London earlier this month.

They were protesting against global trade rules introduced by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to protect drug companies' profits.

The recent legislation has prevented third world countries from using cheaper versions of patented medicines but was waived for Canada after it had difficulty getting adequate supplies of Anthrax antibiotic Cipro.

However, people in poorer countries are still dying from treatable conditions such as diarrhoea, malaria, tuberculosis and Aids because they can only buy the original, costly, drugs after the WTO ruling.

Miss Maddocks said: "There can't be one rule for poor countries and another for the rich.

"For millions of poor people, drugs are an unaffordable luxury. There should be fairer trade rules for everybody."

Ms Aria said allowing Canada to buy generic drugs because suppliers of Cipro were unable to manufacture it quickly enough was unjust, despite the country's appeal on the grounds of national emergency'.

"They say they have a national emergency but haven't the countries where millions are dying?" she said.

"We will be lobbying MPs to get the Government to support our point as well," she added.

At the launch of the Trade Justice Movement at the House of Commons, on Tuesday, November 6, Mr Colman gave his backing to organisations campaigning against trading laws which adversely affect the poor.

He met Oxfam campaigner Marcia Walker, who argued for the reform of pharmaceutical patenting laws and urged other MPs to support the call.

November 20, 2001 11:00