[Ezinne Miriam Igbokwe and Andrea Tosato] Abstract: ... The most contentious [TRIPS] issue has long been the impact of the TRIPS patents regime on access to medicines. Our Article contributes to this debate by illuminating an oft-overlooked facet of TRIPS: Article 31bis. Enacted following the Doha Declaration of 2001, this provision was designed to enable Members with inadequate manufacturing capabilities to import patented pharmaceuticals produced by generics manufacturers under an export compulsory license (ECL) issued by another Member. Initially welcomed with enthusiasm, ECLs have enjoyed minimal success. We propose an explanation for the current fallow state of Article 31bis and suggest approaches to fulfill its promise.