Aaron Motsoaledi braces for slew of brickbats against new IP policy
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says he expects some resistance from pharmaceutical companies against the implementation of the government’s new intellectual property policy which was adopted by Cabinet recently, whose aim is to reduce the cost of medicines, among other things. The policy prioritises people’s lives over the profits of pharmaceutical corporations. Many of the changes to regulations, practices and laws in the offing will affect the health sector, Trade and Industry Minister Rob Davies said at a joint media briefing with Motsoaledi on Thursday detailing the policy. The health minister said it was unlikely that pharmaceutical companies would "just fold their arms" in the face of the pending changes. But they would be flying in the face of the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) rules of the World Trade Organisation, which allow countries to introduce flexibilities into their intellectual property regimes in order to promote the health of their...
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