Accra, 19 Sept, GNA- A nine-member delegation from Zambia on a five-day study tour to Ghana has commended Ghana for the tremendous achievement in the Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). The delegation was in the country to learn from Ghana's experiences in domesticating the provisions of TRIPS, regional networking, understand the coordination mechanisms among stakeholders, the role of coordinating partners, National AIDS Commission and effectiveness of Ghana's monitoring and evaluation mechanisms as well as systems in the implementation of TRIPS.

TRIPS is a World Trade organisation provision that ensures that innovators of essential medicines and other drugs are given recognition and paid what is due them after their products have been patent and have the intellectual property rights.

The delegation, lead by Mr Justine Tambalamba Chilambwe, an Examiner with Zambian Patents and Companies Registration Office visited Ministry of Health, National AIDS Control Programme, Ghana AIDS Commission, and Ministry of Justice, Food and Drugs Board and the Ministry of Trade, Industry PSI and PSD

Mr. Chilambwe noted that the two countries had differences in institutional and administrative arrangements on TRIPs. Debriefing the Ministry of Health in Accra, Mr. Chilambwe called for the encouragement and support of local manufacturing of essential medicines and noted that there was the need to define the roles and responsibilities among government ministries to avoid duplication. He said there was the need for harmonising procurement procedure and introducing free trade among states adding that pooled procurement was one possible way of reducing cost if properly coordinated. Mr. Chilambwe said the decentralisation of administrative system for government funding and National insurance schemes supportive of health sector including HIV/AIDS,

"The Scope of our mission has been fulfilled and the tour has been informative and educative," Mr Chilambwe noted. Ms Salimatu Abdul-Salam, Acting Chief Director said Ghana would also visit Zambia for exchange of ideas