The global drug gap.
Global inequities in access to pharmaceutical products exist between rich and poor countries because of market and government failures as well as huge income differences. Multiple policies are required to address this global drug gap for three categories of pharmaceutical products: essential drugs, new drugs, and yet-to-be-developed drugs. Policies should combine "push" approaches of subsidies to support targeted drug development, "pull" approaches of financial incentives such as market guarantees, and "process" approaches aimed at improved institutional capacity. Constructive solutions are needed that can both protect the incentives for research and development and reduce the inequities of access.
Reich
M R
MR
Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA. reich@hsph.harvard.edu
D035843:Biomedical Research; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003906:Developing Countries; D004345:Drug Industry / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D004358:Drug Therapy; D004363:Drug Utilization; D004335:Drug and Narcotic Control; D018954:Drugs, Essential / Q000600:supply & distribution / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014943:Global Health; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D007880:Legislation, Drug; D010330:Patents as Topic; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000600:supply & distribution; D017149:Private Sector; D017150:Public Sector; D012106:Research
D018954:Drugs, Essential; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations