Abstract

In spite of the great developments in medicine in the 20th century, the healthcare and the quality of life of millions of people living in developing countries are still under the acceptable limits. The capitalist system we are immersed in, the right to healthcare has become a private good only accessible to those that can afford it. The Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) strengthens the idea that the rights of great transnational companies are more important than people’s rights. The monopoly over production and prices has an exaggerated impact over the access to medicines; especially in developing countries, where the majority of the population lacks medical insurance. _Published online_: 11 December 2017.