1 TRIPS and Public Health: Implications for the

Transcript:1 TRIPS and Public Health: Implications for the:
1 TRIPS and Public Health: Implications for the Pharmaceutical Sector in Africa Update on Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Plan for Africa Dr. Djoudalbaye Benjamin Senior Health Officer African Union Commission Presentation outline Definition TRIPS Agreement TRIPS and Public Health About the PMPA Background & key milestones Philosophy Objectives Vision Conclusion Definition The Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) is an international agreement administered by the World Trade Organization (WTO) that sets down minimum standards for many forms of intellectual property (IP) regulation as applied to nationals of other WTO Members. It was negotiated at the end of the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) in 1994. The TRIPS agreement introduced intellectual property law into the international trading system for the first time and remains the most comprehensive international agreement on intellectual property to date. In 2001, developing countries, concerned that developed countries were insisting on an overly narrow reading of TRIPS, initiated a round of talks that resulted in the Doha Declaration. The Doha declaration is a WTO statement that clarifies the scope of TRIPS, stating for example that TRIPS can and should be interpreted in light of the goal "to promote access to medicines for all." TRIPS AGREEMENT Background & Key Milestones PMPA: Born out of the recognition by African Heads of state of the tremendous challenges facing African healthcare systems; Original decision to develop a PMPA – Abuja 2005; Initial Plan endorsed by Heads of State – Accra 2007; Series of technical workshops and political dialogues undertaken; Development and adoption of Business plan – 2012. Philosophy Access to quality healthcare is a fundamental Human Right; The promotion of industrial development and the safeguarding and protection of public health are not mutually exclusive priorities; The production of quality medicines and the development of an international GMP compliant industry in Africa are possible, desirable and eminently doable. 6 Core objectives Support local pharmaceutical manufacturing: Increased access to affordable quality medicines; Sustainable supply of essential medicines; Improved public health outcomes; Industrial and economic development. 7 Imperative for success 1/2 Political support & Policy coherence; Recognizes the on-going human tragedy on our continent resulting from limited access to medicines & the dire need for lasting solutions; Demands courage, foresight and the willingness to take tough decisions (govt. catalytic role); African R&D and blockbuster drugs (Diaspora skills). 8 Imperative for success 2/2 Strong independent and predictable