make medicines affordable to all.

[wardp]

This link sums up the  present state of drug companies  and their  greed. Please read  http://makemedicinesaffordable.org/en/drugs/

[Jim Allen]

Drug patents well agree or disagree, they are there for now and let’s be honest no commercial company is a charity.

There is tones of research being done into better treatments, and newer drugs take time & money. if there was no profit or protection of the product at the end of the development than commercial companies would simply no longer invest in the future  development or fund research. They are after all in business to make money, not to be a charity. 

That said I do think things could be a lot cheaper and better deals hammered out with 3rd party manufactures that would be profitable for all, whilst delivering a fairer price to the consumer.

Jim

[wardp]

Yes jim i totally  agree with you but i have been reading about all these new drug combos  that were  meant to help people with hiv but are not been made available  here in asia  in countries  like  laos Vietnam  Cambodia  etc  even in india where the generics are produced their  government are only supplying  them with second line arvs . it takes years for the  new generics to actually  end up been approved  due to bea.uracy . Here in thailand  they are buying in the original  medications  at  10 times the cost of generics. The bill gates and clinton foundations  are doing great work.. But more needs to be done. .

[daveR]

I can understand the need for the companies to make a profit, they make no money, we get no new drugs. For me though with the latest buzz acronym being TasP I would have thought it was in the interest of every government and health organisation to push for cheaper medication so all people have access. Ok so developed Western countries can afford the higher prices, all be it at a strain to the tax payers there, unless they get all of their citizens on medication, then build a wall around themselves, stop all transport in and out of the country to the poorer nations who can't currently afford medication, this virus will continue to spread and worse, mutate. Nobody will win.

Governments do not help, Thailand as already mentioned, drags its heals approving meds. HIV drugs are supposed to be fast tracked here but it generally seems to take 1-2 years after the US, Europe and other countries approve a drug before they allow it here. Generics count as new drugs so when they appear it then takes another year or two. Again I understand the need to ensure the quality is there, who wants to take pills thinking they are high quality and maintaining their health when they are doing the opposite. But if the drugs come from a manufacturer who has been approved by the original manufacture of the meds as being made to the same standard under licence, then the whole procedure should be sped up.

More does need to be done.

[wardp]

Good point. The American  fda vet all the major  indian companys so that high standards  are maintained . Its so frustrating  to see an announcement  about meds been made available  when its not actually  happening  in reality ...

[wardp]

Heres some updated  info  https://www.ghsupplychain.org/sites/default/files/2017-10/HIV-AIDS%20TLD%201%20pager.pdf

[daveR]

$75 per person per year for an up to date modern regime. Dragging their heals on it just does not make any sense for low to middle income countries. They are virtually allowing their citizens to die.
Have to ask why any government would allow it. I certainly have no idea as to the answer to that question.