WHO okays clearer drug pricing — but big pharma still protected
Drug companies argue that cost information is a commercial secret and companies just have a commercial incentive to tackle disease
Geneva — World Health Organisation (WHO) members agreed on Tuesday to push for clearer drug pricing but stepped back from proposals by activists to force pharmaceutical firms to disclose the cost of making medicines. Activists say drug companies can charge high prices for some medicines and governments spend too much, because they negotiate without knowing how much each drug actually costs to make. Drug companies argue that cost information is a commercial secret. They say new drugs should be priced according to the benefits they bring to patients, regardless of production and development costs, to ensure companies have a commercial incentive to tackle disease. An earlier draft of the text would have given the WHO explicit powers to collect and analyse data on procurement prices and costs from clinical trials — but that wording was omitted from a draft published on Tuesday. A WHO committee adopted the draft by consensus after a long negotiation, just in time for it to be considered ...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.