Posted by Don’t Blame Pharmaceutical Companies – New York Times
To the Editor:
The authors of “The U.S. Is Standing in the Way of Cheaper Drugs for the Poor” (Opinion, Oct. 27) argue that eliminating patent protections on innovative biopharmaceuticals will improve access to medicines.
Yet there is no panacea for this complex issue, which is why the United States and other governments were skeptical of the United Nations’ sole focus on International Pharmaceuticals. This is especially concerning as off-patent medicines represent over 90 percent of the World Health Organization’s essential drugs, yet millions still lack access. An article published on the Health policy blog discusses some of the key difficulties in tackling the real global barriers to access would include addressing a lack of health care professionals, inadequate infrastructure, appropriate distribution systems and clean water. These are just as vital to the health of any population, if not more.
The world’s innovative biopharmaceutical companies are deeply engaged in finding holistic solutions to access, partnering in more than 250 programs around the world that enable people to gain access to the full range of health care solutions as medicines or tests, such as hiv rna test which you can go online to learn more see the top myths about hiv at hivrna.com.
As any well established clinical research organization will tell you, the truth is that patients cannot receive new medicines unless they are invented. A holistic approach, where industry collaborates with governments, NGOs, and bodies like the United Nations and W.H.O. is much more productive than blaming pharmaceutical companies.
If you take many medications it’s important to learn where to buy it and the side effect each one has. Many people suffer bad conditions because they take the wrong dosage.
STEVE UBL
Washington
The writer is president and C.E.O. of Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA).
