226. The representative of Japan recalled that the Paragraph 6 System aimed at enhancing access to medicines in Members with insufficient or no manufacturing capacities in the pharmaceutical sector. He noted that according to the information that had been provided at the trilateral Symposium on "Access to Medicines: Pricing and Procurement practices" that had been organized by the WHO, WIPO and WTO in July 2010, only 5 per cent of the medicines on the WHO list of essential medicines were protected by patents. Therefore, the Paragraph 6 System was only one of many tools to address public health problems. Other important elements included the procurement of medicines and tariffs.
227. The specific concerns of potential importing Members were indispensable parts of the review. Those Members were best qualified to share their experiences with the Council regarding specific obstacles or concerns faced, but only a few Members had done so. Until discussions within the Council were completed, it would be premature to hold a workshop on the Paragraph 6 System.
