ABSTRACT
This chapter provides concluding remarks on the importance of the seven East African Community (EAC) countries conducting a comprehensive review of their pharmaceutical patent laws and policy systems to ensure their efficient operation and integration with the regional mechanism. Based on research findings, the national laws and policies related to pharmaceuticals in the EAC partner states are not in harmony with those of the region. Therefore, achieving legal and policy coherence is highly recommended as a necessary step towards resolving the disharmony. Additionally, the chapter argues that although foreign aid in drug procurement can be effective, it should be aimed at reducing dependency and building infrastructure and technical skills required for sustainable regional pharmaceutical manufacturing. Grounded in qualitative analysis, the crux of the book is straightforward: regionally coordinated strategies to overcome the impediments to the procurement, production, and distribution of essential medicines in the East African Community could in themselves produce an organisational infrastructure able to effectively deal with many operational variables that inhibit sustainable pharmaceutical access.
