Compulsory Licensing in the Pharmaceutical Industry: The African Experience

The article presents a systematic analysis of the practical application of compulsory licensing and government use of patents in the pharmaceutical sector, drawing on the experiences of Zimbabwe and Rwanda. It examines the legal frameworks, implementation of measures to ensure access to antiretroviral medicines, and associated challenges—including administrative complexity, shortages of resources for establishing local production, and external political pressure. The study demonstrates that the effectiveness of these mechanisms depends not so much on the normative legal framework as on the availability of technological, human, and political resources. The findings may inform improvements to Russian legislation, particularly with regard to refining mechanisms for using patented inventions without the consent of the rights holder.