Needs to be affordable!
Up to a certain limit it is okay to give extended patents to promote innovations, but one should also make sure that prices of the patented medicines are affordable to the common public. After all, health is a basic necessity and the right of every human being.
From Mr Amit Shah
Dubai
They are bullies
This is just some lame excuse that pharmaceutical companies are using to put pressure on governments to extend patents. They have so much money, and I think it speaks volumes of how much money they are swimming in considering that Pfizer was able to make the biggest deal in pharmaceutical history. We can’t let these corporate bullies bend us to their will. Let competition prevail if they choose not to invest in innovation.
I personally have been much looking forward to patents on certain drugs expiring so that they would become more affordable to the common people.
From Ms Josephine Bilodeau
Dubai
This worries me
I don’t agree at all with Ms Josephine Bilodeau. I think it’s rather harsh to call their bluff on such an important topic. Maybe it’s easier for you to say because you aren’t worried about what illness could be next, however I am. There is already a big scare right now about the growing number of antibiotic-resistant infections around the world.
From Ms Catrina C.
UAE
They have enough!
No, we shouldn’t extend patents. We already give them enough of our hard earned money.
From Mr Salem Khan
UAE
Need educated bureaucrats
The existing patent system allows truly obvious things to be patented, feeding a system of patent trolls. It’s a patent system that has evolved from a mechanism to encourage and reward innovation for the benefit of humanity into a system dominated by rent-seeking parasitic actions and extortions. It is just seeing the obvious evolution of a parasitic system.
Science has become too complex for bureaucrats to really understand the details and know what is truly innovative and what is just obvious. We don’t have Einsteins in patent offices anymore.
The field is not tilted against something truly innovative, just a little less favourable to drug companies these days.
From Mr Dallas Weaver
UAE
Access to medicine
I think some extension is possible. I don’t really understand much about pharmaceuticals, but I care about people having access to medication. Prices should also be acceptable.
From Ms Lili Maria
Dubai
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