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Monopoly Big Pharma

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Submitted By ruttyrodri
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Government-created Monopoly of pharmaceutical companies

Not to long ago, the Chinese government amended its patent laws to allow drug companies to reproduce generic, low-cost versions of expensive, patented drugs, a daring move that I am sure will shake up the pharmaceutical industry, as for “Big Pharma” patents ensure a steady stream of exorbitant profits from new drugs for many years.
For example, in the U.S., these patents could last 20 years from the time they are first filed, which results in drug companies being able to mark-up the cost of drugs as much as 569,000 percent higher than the cost of their actual raw materials.

Working in the health industry (Health Insurance), I see how the unreasonably high drug costs leave many patients in a serious financial bind, as the types of drugs administered for serious conditions like cancer can cost upwards of $100,000 or more per year (for example, cancer patients end up taking on a burden of enormous debt).

This type of situation is particularly problematic in developing countries, where the average individual makes far less than the average individual living in the US. To address this problem, China has taken advantage of World Trade Organization (WTO) guidelines that allow member countries to essentially bypass patent laws in special circumstances.

But, can China take advantage of this situation and continue strengthening its legal framework, to become a generic producer of drugs not just for the domestic, but internationally? How would this affect the pharmaceutical industry worldwide? Should we start generating global standards in regards to this? Is it even morally correct for Big Pharma to hold these kinds of patents while there are people dying just because they cannot afford a medication? Should we change our strategy?

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