This report features a section on access to essential medicines in Guatemala. The country's accession to the Central America-Dominican Republic-US Free Trade Agreement required it to have intellectual property polices that curtail access to medicines. Government procurement policies also restrict access to affordable medicines.
The report recommends that Guatemala reform its procurment policies, make use of TRIPS free trade flexibilities, and refrain from entering into other free trade agreements that require stricter IP protections, in order to increase access to (and decrease the cost of) medicines.
Citation: Anand Grover, 'Report of the Special Rapporteur on the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health: Mission to Guatemala' (2011) A/HRC/17/25/Add.2