E-drug: Affordable access to essential drugs
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[Copied from Ip-health]
U Schuklenk, RE Ashcroft. 2002. Affordable access to essential drugs in
developing countries: conflicts between ethical and economic imperatives.
Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 27(2): 179-195.
Abstract
Recent economic and political advances in developing countries on the
African continent and South East Asia are threatened by the rising death and
morbidity rates of HIV/AIDS. In the first part of this paper we explain the
reasons for the absence of affordable access to essential AIDS medication.
In the second part we take a closer look at some of the pivotal frameworks
relevant for this situation and undertake an ethical analysis of these
frameworks. In the third part we discuss a few of the proposed solutions to
the problem and conclude with an argument in support of our preferred course
of action. In this article we argue for compulsory licensing of essential
AIDS medications in the current conditions of public health emergency. We
argue on broadly consequentialist grounds that compulsory licensing is
preferable both morally and pragmatically to the alternatives, notably the
currently offered price cuts and drug donation schemes.
U Schuklenk
Head Division of Bioethics
Co-Editor: Bioethics | Developing World Bioethics
University of the Witwatersrand
Faculty of Health Sciences
Johannesburg, Wits 2050
South Africa
www.wits.ac.za/bioethics
www.udo-schuklenk.org
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