Medicines and economic constraints

Abstract

Medicines are a fundamental tool in clinical practice, and one of the main contributors to the increased life expectancy of people who have access to them. There are a number of issues regarding the production and distribution of medicines around the world. This article discusses several pharmaceutical issues, such as the lack of options for undeveloped countries and for neglected diseases, and looks at how the high cost of medicines limits their accessibility. Other concerns are highlighted, in particular the high cost and lack of investment in ‘orphan’ drugs. Another issue is the market for generic drugs and competition that does not always benefits the end user. Drug research will also be discussed, considering that development is sometimes performed to compete for a share of the market, with upgrades or slight modified molecules, rather than being driven by clinical needs.