Patents - The Question of Ethics

It will take enormous resolve on the part of the governments to introduce such measures in poorer countries but we believe it is possible, the only difference being that the insurance premiums will have to be uniformly lower and thus the drugs and treatment will have to be cheaper. As we have seen from the case, companies like Merck are willing to provide drugs at a cheaper price but only as long as their IPR are protected and the drugs are not channeled off to a developed country to be sold at a premium. Therefore price is not an issue if the conditions are met. We believe a nationwide insurance cover will take care of both conditions. Since the drugs will now be provided under the insurance cover the risk of them being channeled off will be eliminated. Also, the country will be able to enforce IPR laws more forcefully once the availability and pricing issues are resolved as a result of the proposed measures.…