The impact of trade and IP rules on public health and access to medicines has been an issue of global concern on the international agenda for several years. ICTSD’s work in this area has focused on identifying options for the use of TRIPS flexibilities relating to public health by developing countries, including, for instance, the elaboration of guidelines of patentability for the examination of pharmaceutical patents. It has also examined the impact of new IP standards, particularly in FTAs, on the price of medicines in developing countries.
In addition, ICTSD has been interested in the opportunities offered by alternative innovation models for the development of medicines for diseases that disproportionately affect developing countries. In this context, it closely follows the deliberations of the WHO Intergovernmental Working Group on Health Innovation and IP (IGWG) and has, through its multi-stakeholder dialogue and well targeted research, contributed to identifying options for achieving progress in these deliberations.
Finally, ICTSD’s work has explored how better coherence between a broad range of trade and health policies may improve access to essential medicines.