Patent Law and Access to Essential Medicines: A Legal and Human Rights Perspective
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36676/ijl.v3.i2.83Keywords:
Patent Law, Essential Medicines, TRIPS Agreement, Compulsory Licensing, Access to Healthcare, Public Health, WTO, India, IP LawAbstract
The interface between patent law and access to essential medicines presents one of the most pressing global health challenges of the 21st century. While patent regimes aim to incentivize innovation and pharmaceutical R&D, they often create monopolies that lead to unaffordable drug prices, particularly in developing countries. This review explores the legal framework governing pharmaceutical patents under international and national law, with a specific focus on the TRIPS Agreement and its flexibilities. It evaluates judicial and legislative developments, particularly in India, that aim to strike a balance between intellectual property rights and public health imperatives. Through an analysis of key case law, policy interventions, and comparative frameworks, the paper identifies legal, ethical, and economic dimensions that influence medicine accessibility. The conclusion offers recommendations to harmonize patent protection with the right to health.
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