On October 24, 2024, KELIN, under the Solidarity Project led by the International Treatment Preparedness Coalition (ITPC), partnered with Community Health Right Advocacy (CheRA) to hold an advocacy meeting in Lilongwe, Malawi. The meeting aimed to address the barriers posed by Intellectual Property (IP) rights on access to essential medicines in Malawi with a focus on life-saving drugs for HIV, tuberculosis (TB) and Hepatitis C.
The meeting gathered diverse voices from Malawi’s Ministry of Health, civil society, key populations, and the Malawi Patent Office, all united for better access to essential drugs. Dr. Sarah Mayuni from the Department of Health and AIDS (DHA) highlighted Malawi’s medicine procurement challenges and underscored the need for self-sustained healthcare funding beyond donor support.
Mr. Chifwayi Chirambo, Malawi’s Registrar General, explained patent registration and the issue of “evergreening,” where patents delay affordable generics. He called for African patent offices to restrict such practices for essential medicines lacking true innovation.
Civil society members pledged to push for reforms enabling Malawi to use TRIPS flexibilities like compulsory licensing to reduce medicine costs. Stakeholders committed to stronger collaboration between government, civil society, and patent offices to curb evergreening and promote public health.
KELIN remains committed to advancing policies and partnerships that ensure IP laws prioritize public health over profits, fostering equitable access to life-saving medicines for all.
For more information, please contact:
Duke Otieno
Advocacy Officer-HIV/TB
Kenya Legal and Ethical Issues Network on HIV & AIDS (KELIN)
