COURSE ON ACCESS TO MEDICINES, TRIPS & PATENTS IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD


BACKGROUND

Ensuring universal access to medicines is one of the core obligations of the State for fulfilling the right to health guaranteed under Article 12 of the ICESCR. It is the responsibility of the State to protect the public and also adopt appropriate measures to promote and ensure access to affordable quality drugs and medicines for all. The United Nations and the World Health Organisation has now made access to safe, effective and quality medicines and vaccines one of the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals. Despite these goals and obligations, there are teeming millions in India who are unable to access medicines. What is more paradoxical, is the fact that there is a flourishing domestic pharmaceutical industry that produces medicines at a low cost not just for India but also the developing world, yet millions in India are pushed into poverty due to the high cost of medicines. While there are many factors that affect the cost of medicines, one of the key factors is the monopoly granted by the intellectual property (IP) right—patent. In 1994, India signed the Marrakesh Agreement establishing the World Trade Organisation (WTO). The WTO makes it mandatory for its Member Countries to comply with Agreement on Trade-Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). Post-2005, India to comply with TRIPS had to change its laws and policies. TRIPS and related laws and policies play a decisive role in determining the availability of medicines in a country. Currently, most of the new medicines for cancer, cardiovascular problems, diabetes, respiratory problems and arthritis are highly expensive and patented. In this wake, it is important to understand the international trade rules governing intellectual property, its consequences, flexibilities and ways to make medicines affordable and accessible to all.

In the recent times,  the issues of health, access to medical products and human rights that have emerged during the Covid-19 pandemic and being widely discussed by the different sections of society such as academia, policymakers and activists. In this background, Third World Network and  IUCIPRS, CUSAT are jointly organizing a five day in person course on Access to Medicines, TRIPS and Patents in the Developing World.

Participants would be exposed to the relevant developments at the national and international level with regard to the right to health, patents, and access to medicines. The course deals with all important aspects of patent, right to health and access to medicines. Further, during the course’s students are expected to do book /article reviews, practical exercises and discussions.

OBJECTIVES

This course aims to equip participants to understand the legal and policy issues around access to affordable medicine and patent rights, increase knowledge around the use of the flexibilities provided by international trade agreements. Further, the course aims to enhance their capacity to make effective law and policy interventions.

Language: Course will be conducted in English

Venue: Kochi, Kerala

Date: 10th to 15th December