Access to Medicines

Abstract

The article discusses the impact of intellectual property protection on public health. Public health principles, in the context of access to medicines, are supported by a range of national and international legal and policy instruments, including the Constitution of the World Health Organization. From a human rights perspective, implementation of intellectual property rules should be governed by those principles which support public health goals and access to medicines. Although the impact of intellectual property on access to affordable medicines predated the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), the impending expiry of deadlines for implementing the TRIPS Agreement by developing countries has added impetus to the debate. INSET: Public health crisis management and patents..