The policy context for action on innovation and access

This chapter outlines the policy framework for public health, intellectual property (IP), international trade and competition, focusing on how they intersect, with particular emphasis on medical technologies. The framework comprises the human rights dimension of access to medicines; the policy, economic and legal features of IP and innovation systems; regulation of medical products; competition policy; and relevant trade policy measures, including import tariffs, non-tariff measures, rules on trade in services, government procurement, and regional and bilateral free trade agreements (FTAs). In addition, it discusses the economics of innovation and access to medical technologies and outlines the interface between genetic resources, traditional knowledge and traditional medicine, IP and trade.