SouthViews No. 121, 12 November 2015
The grant of patents and the exorbitant cost of “lifesaving” drugs
By Germán Velásquez
The important relationship between the examination of patents carried out by national patent offices and the right of citizens to access to medicines hasn’t always been well understood. Too often these are viewed as unrelated functions or responsibilities of the state. And the reason is clear: patentability requirements are not defined by patent offices, but frequently by the courts, tribunals, legislation or treaty negotiators. This is the case when patent policy is implemented in isolation from, rather than guided by, public health policy.
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The grant of patents and the exorbitant cost of “lifesaving” drugs
This article was tagged: Access to Health, Access to Medicines, Affordable Medicines, Medicines Patent Pool (MPP), Patent, Patent Policy, Public Health, Right to Health
