COMPULSORY LICENSES IN THE PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY DURING EPIDEMIC TIMES: A GLOBAL IMPERATIVE FOR PUBLIC HEALTH
Abstract
This paper critically evaluates the legal, ethical, and economic importance of compulsory licenses (Compulsory licenses) in the pharmaceutical sector during epidemic crises. Compulsory licenses have emerged as a potent instrument for improving access to life-saving vaccines and medications as the world battles infectious diseases such as COVID-19, Ebola, and HIV/AIDS. The paper examines the way in which compulsory licenses reconcile public health priorities with intellectual property (IP) rights by examining historical and contemporary case studies, thereby advocating for a reevaluation of global pharmaceutical governance. It urges the development of innovative solutions to guarantee equitable access to healthcare during future epidemics, based on evidence-based insights.