Abstract
A brief overview is made of the question regarding patents in the pharmaceutical industry examining in particular the availability of information, the efficiency of search tools and the role of the National Intellectual Property Institute - INPI on establishing Intellectual Property Rights policies related with public health. The impact of WTO directives - especially the DOHA Declaration and TRIPS - on innovation and industrial production, and the pipeline prerogative is discussed in relation to national pharmaceutical production and public health which is a basic human right.