591. The delegation of Japan would like to reiterate the importance of "Access to Medicine and medical technology", which needs to be discussed in a broader context, taking into account not only the special compulsory licensing system but also various other relevant measures and factors such as manufacturing capacity, distribution networks as well as regulatory framework.
592. On countless occasions, humanity has overcome crises throughout history by the development and promotion of innovation. In this regard, medical technologies used to fight the pandemic have been created due to inventions throughout time. This type of development has been made possible by robust intellectual property systems that incentivize and protect innovation.
593. In addition, there are a number of voluntary initiatives to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. We believe that voluntary basis approach is essential for such initiatives, because it provides possible options for right holders to find solution on the basis of each situation and does not impede the incentive for innovation.
594. Finally, the delegation of Japan would like to mention that the Doha Declaration, which confirmed the TRIPS flexibilities, its relevant statements, and the resulting Amendment to the TRIPS Agreement all rest on an intricate balance between importance of IP protection and protection of public health.