Regional Cooperation, Intellectual Property Law and Access to Medicines: A Holistic Approach for Least Developed Countries

This book explores the potential for regionalization of intellectual property law and policy to improve pharmaceutical access for least developed countries, using the East African Community as a case study. It adopts a holistic approach to address IP and non-IP barriers, evaluating factors for successful regional cooperation and making recommendations for existing and aspiring regional coalitions.

Format: Hardback
Length: 144 pages
Publication date: 05 December 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive book delves into the potential of regionalization of intellectual property law and policy to enhance pharmaceutical access for least developed countries. Recognizing the ongoing challenge of sustainable access to pharmaceuticals on a global scale, the book focuses on the overlooked perspective of least developed countries. By examining the East African Community as a case study, it sheds light on why and how a regional collective approach is favored for addressing these issues. The book adopts a holistic approach, exploring sustainable solutions to both intellectual property (IP) and non-IP barriers to pharmaceutical access across various interconnected domains. It evaluates critical factors for successful regional cooperation, including legal and policy coherence, World Trade Organization (WTO) rule compliance, the threat of protectionism, regional competition rules, and more. Through these assessments, the book provides valuable legal and policy recommendations tailored to both existing and aspiring regional coalitions seeking to improve pharmaceutical access.

Moreover, the book extends its analysis beyond IP barriers, examining non-IP-related factors such as pharmaceutical market intelligence, local pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity, economies of scale and purchasing power, medical regulation and quality assurance, technology transfer, and market size. By encompassing a wide range of interrelated aspects, the book offers a comprehensive resource for academics, researchers, and policy-makers engaged in the fields of Public Health Law, International Trade Law, Intellectual Property Law, and Development Studies.

Weight: 449g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032379036