22. Strengthening and streamlining national law responses beyond COVID-19: Trade and intellectual property rules in the context of access to health technologies

Panelists:

• Professor Carlos Correa, Executive Director, South Centre
• Marcela Cristina Fogaca Vieira, Global Health Centre, Graduate Institute Geneva
• Jaume Vidal, Senior Policy Advisor, Health Action International Europe
• Sergey Golovin, Intellectual Property and Access Lead, Treatment Preparedness Coalition of
• Eastern Europe and Central Asia
• Dr Yuanqiong Hu, Senior Legal and Policy Advisor, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) Access Campaign (Moderator)

This working session brings together leading experts and practitioners from international organizations, academic institutions and non- governmental organizations, to critically review and discuss national law responses and experiences addressing intellectual property challenges in a global pandemic and the role of WTO. These would include national law and policy reform processes in several countries, including Brazil, Russia, and the ongoing discussions in the European Union concerning obstacles in using compulsory licensing; as well as the role of TRIPS waiver in a pandemic. It intends to conclude with a discussion on how these experiences should inform the reform of international trade rules beyond COVID19. It aims to offer specific recommendations on what steps can be taken by different stakeholders.

Organized by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and Health Action International (HAI)