Access to Essential Medicines

Access to Medicines: The Colonial Impacts on Patent Law of Nigeria by Okechukwu Timothy Umahi

This paper presents the result of a study on the urge and willingness of Nigerian researchers to patent their inventions. The study focused on Pharmaceutical studies, Food Science and Technology, and Metallurgy and Materials Science in universities. The study revealed that the Nigerian government was the major financier of research activities of the researchers, some of who had generated some inventions/research breakthroughs. The study found that about 95% of the researchers were willing to patent their inventions, but about 10% of them had applied for patents. Researchers in pharmaceutical studies were most active in patenting of inventions, followed by those in Food Science and Technology, and least in Metallurgy and Materials Studies. Read more

Access to ART and Other Essential Medicines in Sub-Saharan Africa: Intellectual Property and Relevant Legislation by Sisule F. Musungu, September 2007

This paper examines the legal and institutional framework for accessing and sharing genetic resources in Nigeria with the context of  the newly enacted National Environmental (Access and Sharing of Benefits) Regulation 2009. It also looks at the numerous entry requirements imposed by the Regulation and other obligations imposed on a permit holder including the obligations to conduct environmental impact assessment and quantitative and qualitative sharing of the benefits with the indigenous communities and Nigeria people. The paper also identifies certain gaps and challenges that may render the regulation sterile while proffering practical solution to overcome the identified challenges. View full paper

Advocating Responsibility for Access to Medicines in Developing Countries by Okechukwu Timothy Umahi, December 2011

This article advocates effective corporate social responsibility (CSR) for multinational pharmaceutical companies in research and development of drug needs of developing countries. It acknowledges access to medicines as a fundamental right in the global public domain, which leaves the option of the associated problem as a moral responsibility for multinational pharmaceutical companies. The article suggests that access to medicines would be enhanced if the pharmaceutical companies become responsible in their pricing, patents, testing, research and development, joint public private initiative and appropriate use of drugs. Read full article