The Network for Monitoring the Impact of Globalization and TRIPS (the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) on Access to Medicines consists of four WHO Collaborating Centres in Brazil, Spain, Thailand and the United Kingdom. Additional input is provided from experts in appropriate pharmaceutical selection, intellectual property and economics.

The Network has developed indicators and an assessment tool to conduct baseline surveys and ongoing monitoring of: national intellectual property laws; pharmaceutical consumption; pharmaceutical pricing; medicines regulatory systems; and investment in pharmaceutical research, development and manufacturing. The tool is currently being revised based on results from field tests and will be published in 2003.

To date, assessment has been carried out in 11 countries in East Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. It provides valuable information on country situations as well as a means of comparative analysis. The data shed light on key policy questions, including: whether country reliance on quality generics is increasing or decreasing; the extent to which countries are making use of flexibility built into the TRIPS Agreement; the extent to which TRIPS and globalization is spurring foreign investment and technology transfer in developing countries; and the extent of pharmaceutical patenting in particular countries. As it accumulates, the data will become increasingly important in monitoring the impact of the TRIPS Agreement on access to medicines, making it possible to analyse changes in policies, prices and consumption over time.

Further data will be collected in additional countries, including in Africa, in 2003 and 2004.

Illustrative data for Eastern Europe from the Network for Monitoring the Impact of Globalization and TRIPS

IP = intellectual property
WTO = World Trade Organization