236. My delegation also refers to its intervention on this ad hoc agenda item at the last TRIPS Council meeting. Let me recall today just two points: the access to medicines discussion is an important one. Switzerland has been fully supportive, committed and actively participating in all mandated work that this Council has done on IP and access to medicines in the WTO and TRIPS context. I refer, in particular, to the negotiations leading to the Paragraph 6 System and its introduction into the TRIPS Agreement through Article 31bis. Obviously, Switzerland’s commitment applies similarly to the relevant work on access to medicines at the WHO, which Switzerland considers to be the core competent international organization for access to medicines issues, and it also extends to WIPO, when IP aspects have been primarily concerned.
237. Concerning the HLP Report on Access to Medicines, we recall that it was not mandated by WTO Members or commissioned by UN Member States. The Report has no formal status in this Organization. Other reports on IP and access to medicines have been commissioned and published by dedicated panels and groups over the years. The TRIPS Council did not consider these reports or their recommendations and conclusions as instructing the Council's discussion.