1. Peter Chibatamoto HIV/AIDS Policy Advisor
WORKSHOP ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TRIPS FLEXIBILITIES IN NATIONAL IP LEGISLATION FOR STRENGTHENING ACCESS TO MEDICINES IN BOTSWANA
MARCH
2013
Peter Chibatamoto
HIV/AIDS Policy Advisor

2. WHERE ARE WE COMING FROM?
Southern African Regional Program on Access to Medicines and Diagnostics (SARPAM) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) are involved in supporting the Botswana Government to sustain its pharmaceutical requirements
Supporting GOB to coordinate the implementation of TRIPS flexibilities to improve access to essential medicines within the SADC region

3. The primary goals of this work include;
A regional assessment of intellectual property and medicines legislation in countries to determine their TRIPS compliance and adaptability;
Identification of reliable and specialized legal advice resources both within and outside the SADC region and maintain a roster of legal experts who are able to offer technical assistance on TRIPS;
Collaboration with development partners to enable countries to protect, include and take advantage of the flexibilities that exist in the TRIPS Agreement as well as to assist countries in bilateral trade negotiations to conclude agreements that are not detrimental to public health.
To date, several achievements have been made towards the primary goals to support Botswana and the SADC Region.

4. WHY ARE WE HERE?
To provide a context of the situation in Botswana by disseminating the findings of the situational analysis study and discussing the recommendations with stakeholders from government, health, trade and IP officials, academics, civil society and private sector.
To map the way forward by developing a joint understanding of future policies that support access to medicines, so that these concepts can be included in IP, trade and health/medicines policies
To agree to TORs for a multi-stakeholder steering/technical Group on IP and Access to Medicines in Botswana that will both drive and oversee the agenda.

5. Expected Outputs Participants commitment to support this process
TORs for a Botswana working group on IP and Access to Medicines
List of possible members, coming from a range of sectors and expertise
Policy brief
Roadmap for amending the Industrial Property Act 2010
Health-related inputs in the draft Botswana IP policy
IP and trade-related inputs in the Botswana Medicines Policy

6. THANK YOU