Zerohedge carried an article on medicines in Greek and the role of BIG Pharma - reported here. The first paragraph is reproduced below:
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Greece is facing a serious shortage of medicines amid claims that pharmaceutical multinationals have halted shipments to the country because of the economic crisis and, as The Guardian reports, concerns that the drugs will be exported by middlemen because prices are higher in other European countries. Rubbing further salt into the Greek (un-medicated) wound, the Red Cross slashed its supply of donor blood to Greece because it had not paid its bills on time. Pharmacies in Greece describe chaotic scenes as clients desperately search from shop to shop for much-needed drugs. Greece's Pharmaceutical Association said "around 300 drugs are in very short supply," adding that "It's a disgrace. The companies are ensuring that they come in dribs and drabs to avoid prosecution. Everyone is really frightened." The fear for the multinationals remains that wholesalers can legally sell to other nations at higher prices and a "combination of Greece's low medicine prices and unpaid debt by the state." Lines form early and 'get very aggressive' one pharmacy exclaimed, "We have reached a tragic point."
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Recently, the "Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB)" in India upheld the grant of compulsory license of a Bayer drug to Natco. Some more licenses are in the pipeline. However, what comes as a surprise is the attempt by the government to set up another committee for pricing drugs - which may effectively put a stop to this licensing. Is this a case of success of foreign lobbying. Already, price of drugs in India have risen steeply. It would indeed be unfortunate if another scam were brewing in as essential commodity as medicine.
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Greece is facing a serious shortage of medicines amid claims that pharmaceutical multinationals have halted shipments to the country because of the economic crisis and, as The Guardian reports, concerns that the drugs will be exported by middlemen because prices are higher in other European countries. Rubbing further salt into the Greek (un-medicated) wound, the Red Cross slashed its supply of donor blood to Greece because it had not paid its bills on time. Pharmacies in Greece describe chaotic scenes as clients desperately search from shop to shop for much-needed drugs. Greece's Pharmaceutical Association said "around 300 drugs are in very short supply," adding that "It's a disgrace. The companies are ensuring that they come in dribs and drabs to avoid prosecution. Everyone is really frightened." The fear for the multinationals remains that wholesalers can legally sell to other nations at higher prices and a "combination of Greece's low medicine prices and unpaid debt by the state." Lines form early and 'get very aggressive' one pharmacy exclaimed, "We have reached a tragic point."
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Recently, the "Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB)" in India upheld the grant of compulsory license of a Bayer drug to Natco. Some more licenses are in the pipeline. However, what comes as a surprise is the attempt by the government to set up another committee for pricing drugs - which may effectively put a stop to this licensing. Is this a case of success of foreign lobbying. Already, price of drugs in India have risen steeply. It would indeed be unfortunate if another scam were brewing in as essential commodity as medicine.
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