"Fake" Drugs from China
In recent times there have been clashes between the governments in poor countries like Thailand and Brazil and the WTO and Big Pharma. Poor countries don't want to pay their GDP in medical bills for drugs they could make themselves for much less, so they've started to make them, for less. It seems now though the tactics have turned nasty, with the BBC reporting on criminal Chinese gangs making and selling Fake Drugs. No mention is made of whether these Fake Drugs are generic versions of Real Drugs(TM) or simply rat poison in tablet form. However it stressed it could kill people. In this story 11 people died. The drugs were a contaminated batch and were recalled though. Pretty good for a criminal gang. The Chinese have reacted rationally by having their head drugs guy taken out and shot, for corruption not public endangerment. Seems like some people are spinning a crazy story.
Notice also that these Fake Drugs are anti-malarial and anti-HIV drugs, two of the worlds biggest killers. Would you prefer dodgy versions fo these drugs you can afford, or Real(TM) versions you can't?
This story clouds the issue further, trying to blur the line between Fake Drugs and narcotics. Sorry did I say "line", I meant to say "great gaping void".
Is it simply the case that power and morals are mutually exclusive? Or it someone at the WHO, the WTO, the WIPO or a western government going to stand against big pharma. Thinking about it, it would seem morals preclude power. We're just going to have to take our GlaxoSmithKline approved medicine and like it I suppose.
Notice also that these Fake Drugs are anti-malarial and anti-HIV drugs, two of the worlds biggest killers. Would you prefer dodgy versions fo these drugs you can afford, or Real(TM) versions you can't?
This story clouds the issue further, trying to blur the line between Fake Drugs and narcotics. Sorry did I say "line", I meant to say "great gaping void".
Is it simply the case that power and morals are mutually exclusive? Or it someone at the WHO, the WTO, the WIPO or a western government going to stand against big pharma. Thinking about it, it would seem morals preclude power. We're just going to have to take our GlaxoSmithKline approved medicine and like it I suppose.