Free Trade Agreements & Intellectual Property Rights
1.2.1 Continuous monitoring, information management and dissemination
HAIAP evaluates latest developments and effects of current and future FTAs by commissioning country papers on the role of FTAs in the price of medicines by acting as a clearing house for information. HAIAP monitors the immediate impacts of the TRIPS agreement (accessibility to medicines both in terms of availability and affordability of medicines prices) since certain developing countries became TRIPS compliant in January 2005.
The effects of intellectual property rights on access to medicines is not always clear. Therefore, awareness must be built among specific target groups such as officials of the ministries of health and trade. HAIAP in collaboration with other organisations conducts workshops/seminars/consultations at national and sub-regional level in order to build awareness among these target groups.
Recent events:
Asia-Pacific Conference on FTAs and their Impact on Access to Medicines 2008, Bangkok, Thailand
HAIAP together with the Drug Study Group (DSG), the Health & Development Foundation as well as the Social Pharmacy Research Unit (SPR) and the Health Consumer Protection Program (HCP) of Chulalongkorn University, Thailand hosted the Asia-Pacific Conference on ‘FTAs and their Impact on Access to Medicinal Drugs’ in Bangkok, Thailand between the 25th and 28th of August 2008.
Related News:
HAI-Europe on ‘DG Competition on Pharmaceutical Sectory Inquiry’ in HAI News #150
To learn more, visit HAI Europe’s website: www.haiweb.org
HAI-Latin America & Caribbean on the EU-CAN FTA in HAI News #150
To learn more, visit the HAI Latin America & Caribbean website: www.aislac.org