On June 3-5, 2019 government officials, academia, patent attorneys and civil society from Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia as well as from other Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) countries gathered in Kiev, Ukraine to discuss intellectual property and access to medicines. The event was attended by more than 100 people from more than ten countries and became one of the most significant IP and A2M events ever convened in the region.
The event included presentations from the leading international IP experts:
- Professor Sean Flynn, Director of Programs on Information Justice and Intellectual Property at the American University Washington College of Law;
- Professor Carlos Correa, Executive Director at the South Centre;
- Dr. Mohammed El-Said, Lancashire Law School, University of Central Lancashire;
As well as high profile representatives of international organizations working on ensuring access to essential medicines:
- Dr. Rosemary Kumwenda, Regional HIV/Health Team Leader at UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub;
- Boyan Konstantinov, LLM, Policy Specialist at UNDP Health, HIV and Development Group;
- Erika Duenas, LLM, Technical Officer at the Department of Essential Medicines & Health Products at World Health Organization.
The participants of the Congress had an opportunity to discuss topical issues related to the intersection of public interest, patent law and access to medicines with the leading experts in the sphere. One of the results of the meeting is strengthening of the network of regional actors in Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia – healthcare and trade officials, civil society, academia, patent examiners and private practitioners, who share the same vision that IP laws should preserve rights of the patients.
More details about the Congress are accessible by the link.
