diseases such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, and cancer. Lack of Generic Brands Many argue that generic brand production in developing countries increases competition and therefore is essential to bridge the global drug gap. As argued by various sources, the push for more measures such as market and data exclusivity, hinders low-income countries' ability to manufacture and produce generic drugs. However, low-income countries often lack the essential infrastructure to allow for generic brand production. In order the use of the medication to be effective, it must be manufactured in optimal laboratory conditions. Developing countries often lack air conditioning, stable electrical power, or refrigerators to store samples and chemicals. Also, quality generic brand production is limited by a government's ability to create effective spaces of market competition and to monitor the quality of generics brands; this ability has been found to be limited in certain developing countries. It also argued that international aid, state investment, and measures for infection prevention are necessary to allow for generic brand production in low-income countries. Language and cultural barriers Among populations that do not speak the main language in an area access to medicine can be hindered by language barriers as well as other cultural barriers. There is evidence that access is improved by having medical workers that speak the language of patients, as patients will be more likely to know about and to take medicines. Legislation Trips agreement The Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), is a multilateral agreement between all member nations of the World Trade Organization (WTO), effective January 1995. This agreement introduced global standards for enforcing and protecting nearly all forms of intellectual property rights (IPR), including those for patents and data protection. Under the TRIPS Agreement, WTO member nations, with a few exceptions, are required to adjust their laws to the minimum standards of IPR protection. Member nations are also obligated to follow specific enforcement guidelines, remedies, and dispute resolution procedures. Before TRIPS, other international conventions and laws did not specify minimum standards for intellectual property laws in the international trading system. The TRIPS Agreement is argued to have the greatest effect on the pharmaceutical industry and access to medicines. It is argued that the TRIPS agreement negatively impacted generic drug industries in countries such as India. However, others argue that the agreement is open to interpretation. A clause in the TRIPS agreement allows compulsory licensing, which permits