Generic Drug War: Global South vs. Big Pharma
Asia Pacific Forum - 06/17/2013
But already, multinationals in Europe and the U.S. are pushing for changes to India’s unique intellectual property laws, so they can further consolidate their monopolies and keep generics off the market. Two trade deals currently in the works, the Trans Pacific Partnership, which would cover much of the Pacific Rim, and the EU-India free trade agreement, would greatly expand the ability of foreign drug companies to trump domestic patent laws. By making it easier for companies to extend drug patents repeatedly, or use so-called “data exclusivity” and other intellectual property laws to maintain market control, these policies could sharply limit access to medicine for millions across the Global South who can’t pay the brand-name price for crucial medical treatments.
We spoke with Brook Baker of the advocacy group Health Global Access Projectto learn more about the future of generic medicines.
GUESTS
- Brook Baker is a professor at Northeastern University School of Law and Senior Policy Analyst for Health GAP.