The National Conference entitled “Intellectual Property and Providing Patients with Medicines in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Conclusions and Perspectives for the Republic of Moldova” was held on December 21. The event was organized by the Public Association “Positive Initiative”, in partnership with the State Agency on Intellectual Property (AGEPI), under the auspices of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova. The conference brought together deputies, international experts, representatives of international organizations, central public authorities and civil society.
Viorel Iustin, Director General of AGEPI, in his welcoming speech, mentioned that: “AGEPI makes considerable efforts to ensure that the patent system not only does not limit access to medicines, but even contributes to resolving crisis situations in the field of public health, by implementing an effective compulsory licensing mechanism. In this sense, we are in a fruitful collaboration with both local partners, such as the Public Association “Positive Initiative”, and international and European experts in this field.
I appreciate with great satisfaction your interest in this subject and I want to assure you that the State Agency on Intellectual Property makes every effort for the intellectual property (IP) protection system to be put at the service of the community and to ensure the interests of all, especially of the disadvantaged categories and those with special needs.”
Further, national and international experts informed the participants about intellectual property and public health: patent protection and access to medicines - the existing regulatory framework and development prospects; intellectual property and patient treatment in Moldova: progress, problems, perspectives; access to medical technologies for the treatment of COVID-19 and other diseases: global trends in addressing intellectual property challenges; IP and access to treatment in the countries that have signed the Association Agreement with the EU (Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine); IP and patient insurance in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Eastern Partnership countries: the example of Ukraine. It was also presented the report: “Analysis of the National Framework of the Republic of Moldova in the Light of the Flexibilities of the TRIPS Agreement. How Do We Ensure Access to Medicines?”
The participants agreed to make every effort to develop effective legislative mechanisms meant to ensure observance of public health interests and access to medicines, in line with best practices in implementing TRIPs flexibilities at national level.
The event was an opportunity for exchanges of information and ideas, and, finally, the participants appreciated the usefulness of the conference and showed interest and willingness to continue discussions in subsequent events to address other aspects related to intellectual property and providing patients with medicines.
