Role of Medicine Patent Pool (MPP) in Resolving Conflict between Patents and Access to Essential Medicines

Abstract

This paper analyses the issue from both international intellectual property law and access to medicine with reference to contributions made by Medicine Patent Pool (MPP), an alternate model of resolving conflict between patent protection of medicines and access to medicine. Adoption of Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement, under framework of World Trade Organisation (WTO), has significantly altered the enforcement standards of intellectual property rights, especially patent rights (Halewood, 1997).  Although, TRIPS Agreement introduces minimum standards of intellectual property rights protection but in case of pharmaceutical patents, they have impact on access to essential medicines because of strict standards (Kojo, 2018). This paper aims at analysing role of MPP towards solving conflict between patents on medicines and access to medicine.