Making Medicines Accessible: Alternatives to the Flawed Patent System

Abstract

The flaws of the modern medicine patent system are widely decried. The current system fails to develop medicines to address the health needs of the global poor and creates a platform for unaffordable pricing of the medicines that exist. But even the harshest critics of the patent paradigm recognize the need to provide incentives for vigorous research and development of new medicines. Many alternatives have been proposed. Some are already in operation at limited levels. But these alternatives are poorly understood, even in the global health community. This article provides a brief review of the grievous defects in the medicine patent system, and then summarizes the alternatives. Some of these approaches work within the existing patent framework, aiming to improve it. Others would radically change the financing of medicine research and development.