A new law will enable companies in Australia to respond to future health crises in less developed nations using the "TRIPS Protocol". Dr. Brendan Shaw, chief executive of Medicines Australia expressed support for the implementation of TRIPS Protocol.

Last month, the Intellectual Property Laws Amendment Bill 2013 brought to Parliament's table and contained provisions to allow third parties to apply for a Federal Court compulsory license for permission to produce patented drugs. The manufactured medicines will be available for export to developing nations experiencing health emergencies.

Medicines Australia collaborated with the Australian government to design a system that would be in line with the principles of the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement and Public Health. The system will also protect the rights of patent holders in Australia.

According to Dr. Shaw, the global pharmaceutical industry has always been in the forefront to provide life-saving medicines to the poor. The industry has spent over $15 billion in 2001 to implement public health programs. Over 2 billion medicines and vaccines were donated for chronic and infectious diseases.

Bill Gates praised the medicine companies in Australia for being "good citizens" during his recent visit in the country. Gates met with PM Julia Gillard last May to discuss Australia's overseas aid budget. Gates is the co-founder of Microsoft and is one of the richest men in the world. He co-chairs a charitable institution, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, with the purpose of eliminating world hunger especially among children.

Shaw says the bill will also reform the Intellectual Property laws in Australia. It also provides the proper balance in helping people in developing countries have access to medicines and protecting intellectual property.

The bill is a good example of how collaboration between government, industry and stakeholders can lead to the development of good legislation and policy.

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