Health Equity in Focus

When Pfizer and other major corporations drafted the rules that became the WTO’s Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property (TRIPS), they set global standards that still determine who gets affordable medicines and who doesn’t. Today, those rules are even more evident through the announcement of Trump's tariff deals.

Countries are rushing to Washington following the 2 April 2025 announcement of U.S. Reciprocal Tariffs seeking bilateral deals to shield their economies. But what do these free trade agreements demand and what will they mean for access to medicines in developing countries?

In this episode, Sanya Reid-Smith explains TRIPS and TRIPS-Plus in simple terms, with clear examples and figures: how compulsory licenses lowered hepatitis C treatment in Malaysia, how TRIPS-Plus rules could cost Colombia US$1.5 billion a year and how Australia’s trade deal with the U.S. became a warning case.

Transcripts in English and Spanish. 

Reading list to dive deeper into the subject.

Credits
Production: Third World Network Berhad
Audio editing: Guilherme Conde & Isadora Chamis
Soundtrack: Daniel Gómez Rico
Artwork: Ames Sia

For years, Africa grappled with a steady rise in mpox cases and recurring outbreaks, yet the disease remained largely overlooked by the global community. It was only when the virus reached Northern countries that mpox began to garner international attention. This long-standing neglect is evident in the sparse data on the disease, the minimal investment in research and development of medical countermeasures, delayed regulatory approvals, and stark inequities in access to these measures.

In this Health Equity in Focus episode, we welcome Chetali Rao, a senior researcher at the Third World Network and an expert in biotechnology, intellectual property, and global health to discuss the pressing ethical, legal, and equity issues raised by the global mpox response and the role the Pandemic Instrument, an agreement currently under negotiation at the WHO, could play.

Chetali provides an in-depth analysis of the current landscape of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics, highlighting the stark inequities faced by developing countries in accessing these critical resources. She also examines the challenges of affordability, the monopolistic practices of manufacturers, and the consequences of relying on a few producers for lifesaving medical countermeasures. Finally, she addresses what could be a potential response to these issues, the Pathogens Access and Benefit Sharing System being negotiated at the WHO.

To clarify the complexities of mpox outbreaks and developments, we have created a timeline that traces the virus’s emergence and trends, focusing on 2022 and 2024. It highlights the deployment of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics, while exposing inequalities in access and Africa’s long-standing burden.

Transcripts in English and Spanish.

Credits
Production: Third World Network Berhad
Audio editing: Guilherme Conde & Isadora Chamis
Soundtrack: Daniel Gómez Rico
Artwork: Ames Sia

In our inaugural episode, we explore the recent amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR) and their implications for developing countries, particularly in light of the upcoming session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) negotiating a Pandemic Instrument. 

The IHR amendments represent a pivotal step towards recognizing the historical inequalities that have long plagued global health systems. Our guest, K.M. Gopakumar, a seasoned researcher and activist from the Third World Network, shares insights from the frontline of these negotiations, emphasizing the need for equitable access to health products and the importance of prioritizing the most vulnerable populations.

Join us as we unpack these complex topics, connecting the dots between colonial legacies and contemporary health disparities and how we can reimagine international health frameworks to promote equity and cooperation. 

Stay tuned for a thought-provoking discussion that not only addresses the technicalities of the IHR amendments but also highlights the urgent need for a more equitable global health order as we approach the INB negotiations. 

Transcripts available in English and Spanish. 

Credits
Production: Third World Network Berhad
Audio editing: Guilherme Conde & Isadora Chamis
Soundtrack: Daniel Gómez Rico
Artwork: Ames Sia