Global Health Progress Agrees Criticizing big Pharma Is Not The Answer

In recent commentary in the Wall Street Journal

, Alec van Gelder, Project Director at the International Policy Network wrote that strong intellectual property rights are critical to strengthening Africas health care system. He criticized statements by the Head of the World Health Organization Essential Medicines Program, Hans Hogerzeil. Hoberzeil wrote that "Big Pharma and intellectual property rights are preventing the worlds poorest countries from receiving access to healthcare. Contradicting these assertions, van Gelder pointed out that the regions lack of health infrastructure and the diversion of aid money are the real culprits behind the crisis.

Drug companies do make easy targets but that doesn't make them villains, said van Gelder, The life-saving treatments they create remain Africa's best hope. The misguided battle against pharmaceutical companies' patent rights will only make Africa's health crisis worse.

van Gelder notes that the growing field of public-private partnerships have resulted in a twelve-fold increase in patients receiving treatment over the last decade and have created a program of voluntary patent licenses for lower-cost "generics" manufacturers. Furthermore, fewer than 5% of WHO's 423 Essential Medicines are currently protected by patents and these are mostly advanced "second-line" anti-AIDS medicines.

Global Health Progress (GHP) is actively supporting public-private partnerships to help address the need for access to medicines. Strong patent protection and intellectual property rights are critical components of these efforts to treat the public health challenges that the worlds poorest countries face. As van Gelder aptly points out, Trampling over intellectual property rights removes drug companies' incentives to invest billions of dollars in the development of the next generation of much-needed and sought after drugs.

Rather, GHP supports the continued development of public-private partnerships, research and development and protection for intellectual property rights. These policies ensure that developing countries continue to have drugs available at reasonable costs, that pharmaceutical companies continue to embrace innovations and that all organizations can work together to improve healthcare infrastructure worldwide.

by: Mark Grayson

POST COMMENT

Increasing Pain In Abdomen - Might Be A Symptom Of Appendicitis Improve Blood Circulation And Ways To Improve Blood Circulation What Is Sharepoint Health Analyzer? Get Soma Overnight at SomaOvernight.info Hemorrhoids/hemroids Treatment How To Use Simple Steps To Heal Hemorrhoids Yoga for the Purpose of Supporting Healthy Skin And Body Pregnancy and Dental Health Choosing Electronic Cigarette To Drop Smoking External Hemorrhoid Treatment - How To Cure External Hemorrhoids Without Putting A Big Hole In Your For your health sake, pick out suitable shoes for yourself Hot Tubs Can Help Your Health External Hemorrhoid Cure How To Shrink Huge Sized Piles Permanently In 4 Days Hemorrhoid Treatment-how You Can Cure Hemorrhoids With The Right Diet