Question

There are ethical implications for charging less money for Sovaldi treatment to poverty stricken nations as compared to more developed countries. Choose either pro or con and provide two pieces of evidence to support your claim (use statistics from a reliable source).

Answer 1

Sovaldy is the drug developed by Gilead US based company for the treatment of Hepatitis C

The simple explanation for excessive drug price in developed countries is the Monopoly in pricing.They will fix highest price for their product.There is a little competition from other drug companies.At the same time price negotiation does not exist in the countries like USA and other European countries.In this case medication price skyrocket.In case of America Federal law does not allow medicare to bargain or negotiate bulk discount.

Developed nation's allows health care companies to set prices for their own drugs like other products.under this situation people either afford it or it remains ill, or may be due.

In case of underdeveloped nation's like India make an agreement with Gilead company to to produce sovaldy.In this case licensee set price and they will pay royalty on the basis of sales.Gilead transfer complete technology.The licensee also allows to manufacture sofosbuvir or ledipasvir in compination with other products.More over Govt have great control over medication because peoples are low percapita income and so many competitors exist in the market.

Eg,:sovaldy price in India is $475 for 84 tablets

Where as $84000 for 3 bottles in USA

(Statistics from sunny pharma article,)

Sovaldy cost in Bangladesh is $10 for84 tablets,because the company does not have patent.Due to these reasons like variation in royalty,govt control ,license agreement ,market conditions ect will make changes in price in between developed and under developed nation's

Informations are taken from Times of India

Sunny pharma

FDA