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Improving Access to Medicines in Low‐Income Countries: A Review of Mechanisms
Author(s) -
Bors Cindy,
Christie Andrew,
Gervais Daniel,
Wright Clayton Ellen
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the journal of world intellectual property
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.334
H-Index - 8
eISSN - 1747-1796
pISSN - 1422-2213
DOI - 10.1111/jwip.12032
Subject(s) - enforcement , criminalization , public economics , business , service (business) , intervention (counseling) , developing country , perspective (graphical) , market access , law and economics , public relations , economics , political science , economic growth , marketing , law , medicine , computer science , ecology , artificial intelligence , psychiatry , biology , agriculture
Individuals in low‐income countries (“LICs”) often lack access to appropriate medicines. The multi‐disciplinary nature of this problem requires a holistic approach. Whereas, other writings on the topic tend to focus on one or a small number of issues, often from the perspective of a single discipline, this paper seeks to consider the major issues from a multi‐disciplinary perspective. It first considers mechanisms for improving the availability of medicines in LICs, through grants, prizes, treaties, advance market commitments, priority review and product development partnerships to incentivize and fund R&D for neglected diseases. The paper then assesses mechanisms for improving affordability of medicines in LICs, such as differential pricing mechanisms, monopsonies, patent law flexibilities and human rights obligations. Next, the paper reviews mechanisms for improving the efficacy of medicines in LICs, including authentication, criminalization, international and national enforcement and communication and education. Finally, the paper examines mechanisms for improving the obtainability of medicines in LICs, through low‐cost intervention, task‐shifting, efficient regulation, grass‐roots service provision and education. The paper concludes by identifying areas warranting further research.