The TRIPS Agreement of the World Trade Organization (WTO) mandated the introduction of protection of intellectual property rights, notably patents, for pharmaceutical products. While the implications for the access to medicines contained in the terms of this Agreement raised significant concerns, a recent new wave of free trade agreements, negotiated outside the WTO, requires even higher levels...

Background The escalating cost of pharmaceuticals is a global challenge and major hindrance to access to medicines in developing countries. Half of the Ugandan population lacks reliable access to essential medicines and out of pocket expenditure by patients is as high as 80% [1]. Generic medicines provide an opportunity for savings on medicine expenditure due to their cheaper price [2,3]. Gener...