Access to Global Disease Innovation

Abstract

The pharmaceutical IP system works well in high-income countries able to afford government subsidies and social insurance. It does not work for the poor in low and middle-income countries. For global diseases (Types I and II), innovation is assured by high-income country markets alone, permitting an accommodation for the poor in low and medium-income countries such as a patent buyout or other access programs which support equitable access without damaging optimal innovation incentives.