Improving Access to HIV/AIDS Medicines in Africa : Trade-related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Flexibilities

This book analyzes the extent to which countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have been able to utilize the flexibilities in The Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property rights (TRIPS) to improve access to HIV/AIDS medicines.

It has been observed that in spite of the availability of the flexibilities provided by the Agreement, obstacles to implementation in SSA center mainly on lack of awareness and political will and lack of efficient administrative structures and procedures for coordination and decision making.

The book also examines the option of local manufacture of HIV/Aids medicines, based on the experiences of four countries, evaluates challenges to the sustainability of this option in the SSA context, and makes recommendations based on key findings.