• Access to diagnostics, medicines and treatments

Access to diagnostics, medicines and treatments

This article in the Bulletin of the Word Health Organization (WHO) assesses the effect of implementing the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property rights (TRIPS) agreement on access to vaccines in developing countries. It considers factors in stimulating research and development (R&D) for priority vaccines and examines how global implementation of an intellectual property protection system might affect access to priority vaccines. The article also analyses approaches to managing the effects of TRIPS on developing countries. These include licensing and technology transfer agreements and developing new technologies in developing countries.

The paper discusses the potential role of the WHO and other international partners in ensuring innovation in and access to vaccines in developing countries. It recommends that organisations can help ensure equitable access by: developing guidelines and best practice standards; developing and disseminating case studies on different intellectual property approaches; and monitoring the impact of TRIPS on innovation and access. The authors conclude that in order to ensure access to vaccines, it is necessary to manage the effects of the TRIPS agreement at regulatory and strategic levels. At the regulatory level countries can use the protections guaranteed by the TRIPS agreement to maintain access to new priority vaccines. At the strategic level, licensing and technology transfer agreements can help ensure access. [adapted from authors]

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