[Policy dilemmas in providing antiretroviral treatment in Brazil].
This paper addresses institutional constraints that have affected Brazilian politics regarding provision of anti-retroviral treatment (ART) to HIV/Aids patients. We analyzed the normative conflict resulting from international agreements on intellectual property rights, especially patent protection, and the constitutional rights of Brazilian patients to universal and free access to ART. These constraints have not substantially changed the Brazilian public policy yet, but they may impact the future sustainability of this policy. As the main barrier to the production of patented drugs is not technological but institutional, Brazilian government faces a dilemma. It may either abide by existing monopolistic restrictions or it may incite competitiveness of domestic industries and developing countries in the pharmaceutical market.
Instituto de Estudos em Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ. regina.ferro.lago@iesc.ufrj.br
Regina Ferro
RF
do Lago
Nilson do Rosário
Ndo R
Costa
D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001938:Brazil; D017277:Drug Approval; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000592:standards; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans
D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents