Pharmaceutical Patents in Six South-East Asian Countries

This paper examines how the laws of six countries in South-East Asia (Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand) fit within the WTO TRIPS and regional trade agreement regime for pharmaceutical patents. It examines the laws under the headings of patentability, patent administration, generics to market (preparation for market and compulsory licensing) and trade in pharmaceuticals (parallel importation and compulsory licensing). Its interest lies with drug development and access to medicines. In addition to the reading of the legal texts, note is made of any empirical studies of the impact of the laws.