Tag: generic medicines

TRIPS Agreement and Generic Medicine Access: How Patent Rules Block Life-Saving Drugs

TRIPS Agreement and Generic Medicine Access: How Patent Rules Block Life-Saving Drugs
22 February 2026 Shaun Franks

The TRIPS Agreement enforces global patent rules that block access to affordable generic medicines, especially in low-income countries. Despite legal flexibilities, complex bureaucracy and political pressure have made it nearly impossible to use them-leaving billions without life-saving drugs.