The protocol amending the TRIPS Agreement, which was adopted in 2005, is intended to formalize a decision aimed at easing poorer WTO members' access to affordable medicine. The protocol allows exporting countries to grant compulsory licences (those that are granted without the patent holder’s consent) to their generic suppliers to manufacture and export medicines to countries that cannot manufacture the needed medicines themselves. These licences were originally limited to predominantly supplying the domestic market.

The protocol will enter into force once two-thirds of the WTO membership has formally accepted it.  Qatar's acceptance marks another step towards reaching the threshold.

The up-to-date list and map of members that have accepted the protocol are available here.

More information on the issue of TRIPS and public health is available here.