99. The representative of Bangladesh, speaking on behalf of the LDC group, said that even if the Council had not yet been able to reach a decision, he was convinced that the Chairman had brought Members very close to an agreement. He said that the LDC group wanted a multilateral solution that would indicate that the reference to other epidemics in paragraph 1 of the Declaration was meant to demonstrate the illustrative nature of the list of public health problems. He stressed that the declaration of the existence of public health problems, as well as the grounds of issuing compulsory licences, were prerogatives of governments. He said that all Members had recognized the gravity of public health problems afflicting many developing and least-developed countries and that it was only logical to put in place a mechanism that would address serious public health problems of these countries. He reiterated that Ministers at Doha had reaffirmed that the TRIPS Agreement should be interpreted and implemented in a manner supportive of Members' rights to protect public health. Finally, he said that the LDC group endorsed the 16 December text and urged Members to adopt the decision contained in that text.
