The Politics and Policies of Regulating Generics in Latin America: A Survey of Seventeen States

This article contributes to current discussion on access to medicine in the aftermath of the World Trade Organization's Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS). The focus is on off-patent or "generic" medicines: their product definitions, quality standards and prescription procedures. Drawing from a survey conducted of seventeen countries across the Latin American region, this article examines the differences in definition of off-patent products and the paradox of their relatively lower consumption across multiple developing states. The findings point to pathways for improving standards, consumer information, and access in off-patent pharmaceutical markets.
Source: Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law - Category: Health Management Authors: Tags: Health Policy & Education, Political Science, General, Public Policy Articles Source Type: research