Access to medicines refers to the reasonable ability for people to get needed medicines required to achieve health.[1] Such access is deemed to be part of the right to health as supported by international law since 1946.[2]
The World Health Organization states that essential medicines should be available, of good quality, and accessible.[2] Reasonable access to medicines can be in conflict with intellectual property and free markets.[3] In the developing world people may not get treatment for conditions like HIV/AIDS.[4]