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Statement by Dr Gro Harlem Brundtland, Director General of the World Health Organization
on the occasion of the 4th World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference
Doha, Qatar, 9 to 13 November 2001

In recent years, WTO Members have given increased attention to the issue of intellectual property and access to medicines. Indeed, this is the first time in the 50-year history of the multilateral trading system that a separate Ministerial Declaration is being considered on intellectual property and public health issues. The Doha Ministerial Conference is providing an historic opportunity for WTO Members to ensure that the TRIPS Agreement does not stand in the way of access to life-saving medicines, especially in the poorest countries.

Continuing innovation is essential: this requires both incentives to invest in research on the diseases that drive poverty and protection provided by international agreements on intellectual property.

The issue of patent protection for pharmaceutical products is an area where a fine balance needs to be struck between providing incentives for future inventions of new medicines and ensuring affordable access to existing medicines.

In an effort to focus more systematically on the promotion of public health, WTO Members have worked on consensus-building efforts to reach common understanding on the safeguards and flexibility within the TRIPS Agreement.

This will enable Members to have the sense of security and legal certainty in utilizing the TRIPS flexibility. Clarity on this flexibility would allow Members to formulate public health policies in ways that do not infringe on the rights of patent holders.

Access to healthcare is a human right and we all have an obligation to see this right progressively realized. This involves access to health facilities, prevention, care, treatment and support, and — of course — access to life-saving medicines. At the beginning of this 21st century, one-third of the world's population still lacks access to the medicines needed for good health. WHO recognizes that this access to essential drugs depends on wise selection and use of medicines; sustainable and adequate financing; affordable prices; and reliable health and supply systems.

Much has been achieved during the last two decades. Yet many millions of people still cannot get the medicines and vaccines they need at an affordable price.

The stakes are high: the lives and well-being of millions will be affected as a result of WTO Members reconciling their divergent views and positions, and formulating an agreed Ministerial Declaration on the issues surrounding intellectual property, public health and access to medicines issues.