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This article discusses the current trade and access situation of medicines in India, highlighting factors affecting access and the actors that influence it. It also examines the work of the Centre for Trade and Development (CENTAD) in advocating for better access through research, advocacy, and capacity building.
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Trade & Access to Medicines in India Centre for Trade & Development www.centad.org
Access Situation In India • Leading supplier of generic drugs across the world • Termed as Poor man’s Pharmacy • Yet about 67% of India’s population does not have access to medicines
Factors affecting Access • International Policy regime- product patents, data exclusivity • Domestic Policy regime- regulation on competition, financial support, public health safeguards in IPR laws (compulsory licensing) • Rational drug use • Quality • Availability of Drugs
Pricing • Procurement, Distribution & Dispensation • Research & Development
Actors that influence Access to Medicines • The state and its law and policy interventions • Drug regulatory authorities • Patent authorities • International organisations-WHO, WTO & WIPO • R & D institutes • Practitioners and health care providers ( doctors, medical representatives, pharmacists, hospitals)
System of Price Control & monitoring • Pharmaceutical companies • Consumers & Social groups working on access related issues
Centad’s work on Access • Follows a Participatory Approach • Act as catalyst and coordinate activities across organisations by using research to do: - Advocacy - Capacity Building
Advocacy • Parliamentary Advocacy- policy notes, interactive sessions with MPs, presentations at standing committees • Media Advocacy- dissemination of research findings through press conferences, interviews, articles and short write-ups in the various leading newspapers. Organising training workshop for journalists to sensitise them about the issues