Are There Amendments to TRIPS That Benefit Cancer Patients?
Recognizing the need to balance IP rights with public health, the Doha Declaration on TRIPS and Public Health was adopted in 2001. It clarifies that TRIPS should not prevent members from addressing public health challenges. This declaration supports the use of flexibilities within TRIPS, such as compulsory licensing and parallel importation, to improve access to medications for diseases like cancer. Additionally, the 2017 amendment to TRIPS allows exporting generic versions of patented drugs to countries lacking manufacturing capacity, further aiding cancer patients in resource-limited settings.
