The WHO Intellectual Property in Bilateral Free Trade Agreements

The document asserts that the World Health Organization (WHO) has a mandate to engage in trade policy discussions because the availability and affordability of pharmaceuticals are central to public health. It warns that the progress made by the Doha Declaration is being undermined by a surge in bilateral and regional free trade agreements (FTAs), particularly those between industrialized economies and developing nations, which impose extensive intellectual property provisions that restrict access to low-cost medicines.

• The World Health Organization's mandate includes intervening in policy debates regarding intellectual property and trade because pharmaceutical availability and affordability directly influence public health outcomes.

APA

Shabalala, & Bernasconi (2006). The WHO Intellectual Property in Bilateral Free Trade Agreements. Center for International Environmental Law. https://www.ciel.org/reports/the-who-intellectual-property-in-bilateral-free-trade-agreements-shabalala-bernasconi-november-2006-2/

Chicago

Shabalala, and Bernasconi. The WHO Intellectual Property in Bilateral Free Trade Agreements. Center for International Environmental Law, 2006. https://www.ciel.org/reports/the-who-intellectual-property-in-bilateral-free-trade-agreements-shabalala-bernasconi-november-2006-2/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Shabalala |last2=Bernasconi |title=The WHO Intellectual Property in Bilateral Free Trade Agreements |publisher=Center for International Environmental Law |date=1 November 2006 |url=https://www.ciel.org/reports/the-who-intellectual-property-in-bilateral-free-trade-agreements-shabalala-bernasconi-november-2006-2/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{shabalala2006who, author = {Shabalala and Bernasconi}, title = {{The WHO Intellectual Property in Bilateral Free Trade Agreements}}, institution = {Center for International Environmental Law}, year = {2006}, month = nov, url = {https://www.ciel.org/reports/the-who-intellectual-property-in-bilateral-free-trade-agreements-shabalala-bernasconi-november-2006-2/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }