TRIPs, TRIPs-Plus, Developing Countries and Public Health : The Case of Egypt

The article critically examines how Egyptian legislators made use of the degree of freedom left in the TRIPs Agreement for WTO Members to incorporate appropriate measures in their national laws aiming at meeting the public health needs and concerns, particularly access to quality health care and affordable pharmaceutical drugs. The article also explores and warns against the recent attempts made by a number of developed countries to impose TRIPs-plus obligations on several developing countries, including Egypt, for their detrimental effects on public health