title: Patents and access to essential drugs.
abstract: This paper provides a brief overview of historical developments in patent law including its recent incorporation into world trade law. The impact of patents on access to essential drugs will be discussed. The relationship between intellectual property rights and the right to health will be considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Level 3, 533 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia. bebe.loff@med.monash.edu.au
authors.forename: Bebe
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Loff
mesh_terms: D003132:Commerce; D003906:Developing Countries; D004345:Drug Industry; D004358:Drug Therapy; D018954:Drugs, Essential / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006806:Human Rights; D006801:Humans; D007880:Legislation, Drug; D010330:Patents as Topic / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D010602:Pharmacopoeias as Topic; D014944:World Health Organization
chemical_list: D018954:Drugs, Essential