Question

how does the global trade organization/agreement affect information technology in healthcare both negative and positive?

Answer 1

The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an international body that governs rules of trade between nations. As public health affects every nation, it is important to regulate rules pertaining to it internationally. Patents and trademarks (intellectual property rights ) are important in this regard. Government rules relating to procurement, competition policy as well as trade policy also play an important role. The WTO ensures that there is compatibility between these policies across nations so that medicines are accessible to those who need them.

IT Healthcare is the application of technology in healthcare for better treatment of patients and also involves information sharing/integration for better delivery and for research analysis for medicinal practitioners around the world. Innovation in medicine will be more effective if it can be shared across the world. Here, the WTO acts as a medium for enabling nations negotiate mutually beneficial agreements on healthcare and promote the accessibility of latest medical technologies between nations.

Positive:

- Trade agreements allow medical practioners in one nation to use the technology developed in another nation and thereby become familiar with a new medical innovation which ultimately makes them more productive. For example, many Indian pharma makers generate about 90% of revenue from US generic exports.

Negative:

- Since imported medicines (usually patented) carry high costs, the medical expenses of consumers in the importing nation increase, putting a question on affordability. Even as medical innovation becomes accessible, it's affordability becomes questionable. This defeats the very purpose of the trade agreement; providing affordable healthcare to all.​​​​​​​