Conference to discuss access to medicines

The free public conference “Access to Medicines for the Developing World: International Facilitation or Hindrance?” will be Saturday-Sunday, March 9-10, at the Law School.

Organized by the Wisconsin International Law Journal, the conference features experts in intellectual property law and international trade law, including law scholars, economists and members of non-governmental organizations.

Access to medicine has become a major public policy issue in the United States and internationally. The Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property (TRIPS) agreement, specifically, has brought this issue to the forefront, and the agreement will be examined in light of its implications for the availability of pharmaceuticals in developing nations, which have limited ability to produce life-saving medicines themselves.

Conference panels will explore ways in which governments can work to ensure adequate and affordable drugs within an international trade regime designed to offer protection for pharmaceutical patent rights.

Specific discussions focus on technology transfer, research and development, and litigation strategies that have been employed in attempts to gain access to particular medicines or to restrict the adoption of particular strategies.

The conference will draw participants from as far as South Africa and Australia, and feature experts from organizations including Doctors Without Borders and the World Bank.

To register or for information, e-mail aalatif@students.wisc.edu.