TRIPS HUMAN RIGHTS AND ACCESS TO MEDICINES IN AFRICA

The adoption by member states of the World Trade Organization (WTO) of the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of the Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) in 1994 has remained controversial especially with regard to its implications for life-saving medications in poor regions. TRIPS requires a minimum observance of patent protection for both product and process goods including pharmaceuticals worldwide. Thus precipitating high cost of drugs and hindering access for people in Africa. However the TRIPS Agreement contains useful exceptions which African countries can invoke to ensure access to medications for their citizens. Some of these exceptions include compulsory licensing parallel imports and early working exception. In reality the use of these exceptions has proved very challenging for African countries partly due to opposition by developed countries and lack of expertise and/or capacity on the part of African countries. At the Doha Declaration by the Ministerial Council of WTO it was reiterated that member states of WTO have the right to invoke these exceptions particularly compulsory licensing without restrictions.