Question to the Department for International Development:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the outcome of the EU referendum and the consequent renegotiation of international trade deals, whether her Department plans to continue to support other countries' use of TRIPS flexibilities to ensure access to affordable quality medicine; and if she will make a statement.
As part of our work to widen access to quality, affordable medicines in developing countries we encourage active dialogue between industry and governments to explore how they can best work together to facilitate access, and will continue to do so. This includes the use of licensing models that are compliant with the World Trade Organisation’s TRIPS agreement on intellectual property rights, and supporting developing countries to utilise TRIPS flexibilities, particularly in the case of national health emergencies. This is in line with the Doha Declaration on Public Health, which we fully support.