Interesting proposal that begs the question of inadequacy of territorially applied compulsory licenses & the cumbersome, narrow solution of such licenses for export. #AccessToMedicines #Patents Two problems remain
First, how do you price a patent that covers a pandemic drug? Will humanitarian needs drive up or down reasonable remuneration. There will be lessons there for developing countries looking to apply TRIPS flexibilities in the context of public health needs.
Secondly purchasing the patent to 'maintain R&D incentives for the pharmaceutical sector' assumes our incentives are fit for purpose. Instead of condoning monopoly pricing that has become the norm here,
the EU should breathe life into a major rethink of commercial incentives for pharmaceutical research. A longer term solution would recognise rationality of humanitarian motives, and diminish our current patent system with its well documented abusive possibilities.
