Access to Medicines and Trade Agreements
Author Information
Author(s): Kerry Vanessa Bradford, Lee Kelley
Hypothesis
How can trade agreements be structured to protect access to medicines for low and middle-income countries?
Conclusion
The Doha Declaration and Paragraph 6 decision have not effectively resolved the issue of access to affordable medicines, necessitating a simplification of their implementation.
Supporting Evidence
- One-third of the world's population lacks access to essential medicines, rising to over 50% in Asia and Africa.
- The Doha Declaration was initially hailed as a triumph by public health advocates.
- Implementation of TRIPS flexibilities has been hindered by lack of capacity in many LMICs.
- TRIPS-plus measures have further restricted access to affordable medicines.
- Brazil's policy on ARVs exemplifies the potential of compulsory licensing to improve access.
Takeaway
This study talks about how trade rules can make it hard for poor countries to get the medicines they need, and suggests ways to make it easier for them.
Methodology
The paper reviews policy debates among governments, NGOs, and international organizations regarding access to medicines and trade agreements since 1995.
Potential Biases
Potential bias from the authors' affiliations with institutions that may have vested interests in the outcomes of trade agreements.
Limitations
The study does not provide empirical data on the effectiveness of the Doha Declaration and Paragraph 6 decision in improving access to medicines.
Participant Demographics
The study focuses on low and middle-income countries (LMICs) and their populations lacking access to essential medicines.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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