A
fter months of controversy, the Colombian government has unilaterally lowered the price of a Novartis cancer drug by 44 percent, the latest step in a closely watched and particularly heated battle over access to medicines and intellectual property rights.
The move, which had been expected, comes after Colombian Health Minister Alejandro Gaviria issued a “declaration of public interest.” This allows the government to take various steps to reduce the price of a medicine, and Gaviria argued the price cut is justified because the cost for Gleevec is out of reach for some citizens.
This is a STAT Plus article and you can unlock it by subscribing to STAT Plus today. It's easy! Your first 30 days are free and if you don't enjoy your subscription you can cancel any time.
Already a subscriber? Log in here.
About the Author
