Dozens of Nations Urged to Allow Imports of Patent-Exempt Drugs

A group of more than 30 consumer, health and trade organizations urged three dozen countries — including the U.S. — to allow imports of drugs manufactured under government-issued patent exemptions during the COVID-19 crisis.

The coalition called it “totally irrational” for any country to limit its options for using such patented medical products that are important for fighting the pandemic. Currently, 37 countries do not accept such imports.

Not accepting the patent-exempted products also leads to higher prices, the coalition said.

 “Compulsory licensing is an essential policy tool for access to medicines, especially in emergencies requiring swift action and must be fully available for all countries,” said Graham Dutfield, professor of international governance at the University of Leeds School of Law, one of the individual signers of the letter.

Read the open letter here: www.fdanews.com/04-08-20-Openletter.pdf. — James Miessler