A trade agreement's impact on access to generic drugs

Health Aff (Millwood). 2009 Sep-Oct;28(5):w957-68. doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.28.5.w957. Epub 2009 Aug 25.

Abstract

Millions of people lack access to affordable medicines. The intellectual property rules in the Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA) provide pharmaceutical companies with monopoly protections that allow them to market some drugs without competition by less costly generics. We examined availability of certain drugs in Guatemala and found that CAFTA intellectual property rules reduced access to some generic drugs already on the market and delayed new entry of other generics. Some drugs protected from competition in Guatemala will become open for generic competition in the United States before generic versions will be legally available in Guatemala.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Central America
  • Drug Industry / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • Drugs, Generic / economics*
  • Economic Competition / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • Guatemala
  • Health Services Accessibility*
  • Humans
  • Intellectual Property*
  • Legislation, Drug*
  • United States

Substances

  • Drugs, Generic