Addressing Global Health Inequities: An Open Licensing Approach for University Innovations

Abstract

The article describes the current crisis in access to medicines in the developing world, the existing R&D gap, and the role of universities and other public sector research institutions in exacerbating or ameliorating these problems. It proposes that public sector institutions adopt "Equitable Access Licensing" in order to ensure that patients in low and middle income countries have maximum access to medical technologies originating in universities.

Keywords: humanitarian licensing, intellectual property, pharmaceuticals, access to medicines, R&D, universities, public sector research

JEL Classification: I18, K33, L31, L32, O31, O32, O34