Global Pharmaceuticals

DIVAnthropological study of the globalization of pharmaceuticals and its effects on local cultures, health, and economics./div

The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.tandfebooks.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 3.0 license. An exploration of how global pharmaceutical products are localized - of what happens when they become ‘glocal’ - this book examines the tensions that exist between a global pharmaceutical market and the locally bounded discourses and regulations encountered as markets are created for new drugs in particular contexts. Employing the case study of the emergence, representation and regulation of Viagra in the Swedish market, Glocal Pharma offers analyses of commercial material, medical discourses and legal documents to show how a Swedish, Viagra-consuming subject has been constructed in relation to the drug and how Viagra is imagined in relation to the Swedish man. Engaging with debates about pharmaceuticalization, the authors consider the ways in which new identities are created around drugs, the redefinition of health problems as sites of pharmaceutical treatment and changes in practices of governance to reflect the entrance of pharmaceuticals to the market. With attention to ‘local’ contexts, it reveals elements in the nexus of pharmaceutcalization that are receptive to cultural elements as new products become embedded in local markets. An empirically informed study of the the ways in which the presence of a drug can alter the concept of a disease and its treatment, understandings of who suffers from it and how to cure it - both locally and internationally - this book will appeal to scholars of sociology and science and technology studies with interests in globalization, pharmaceuticals, gender and the sociology of medicine.

The pharmaceutical industry, long thought of as a recession-proof investment, now faces a day of reckoning. The reasons for this impending downfall are not hard to discern. The prices the industry charges for its prescription drugs have escalated at four to five times the cost-of-living increases during the past two decades and have reached a point where 30% of Americans must choose between filling a prescription, paying for housing, and buying food. This has brought about public pressure on governments around the world to control drug prices, yet the world’s twenty largest pharma companies realized 80% of their growth as a result of exorbitant price hikes. Pharma currently enjoys its extraordinary profitability by exploiting the world’s most vulnerable populations. Yet even their ability to increase prices in the face of falling demand does not satisfy their profit demands. The breadth and depth of pharma’s marketing transgressions exceed those of any other industry and have now reached a point where authorities around the world have found it necessary to take legal action against its violations. Drastic change is needed if the pharmaceutical industry can equitably advance the health of the world’s population and regain public esteem. This book illustrates the range and extent of pharma’s violations and addresses the actions that should be implemented in order to make the drug industry a more constructive, less venal part of contemporary society. It will be of interest to researchers, academics, practitioners, and students with an interest in the pharmaceutical industry, healthcare management, regulation, and bioethics.

Medicines are vital in improving patient health outcomes and pharmaceutical policy is a fundamental component of any health system. However, the global pharmaceutical policy is ever-evolving and data and quality ‘research-based information’ in this field are scarce. This book fills this gap and provides up-to-date empirical information and evidence-based synthesis. It focuses on pertinent key issues in global pharmaceutical policy including medicines safety, generic medicines, pharmaceutical supply chain, medicines financing, access and affordability of medicines, rational use of medicines, pharmacy health services research and access to vaccines and biological products. Featuring policy case studies from varied countries such as Mexico, Russia, China, Kyrgyzstan, and Pakistan, this book comprises a valuable and comprehensive resource for students, funders, policymakers, academics, and researchers interested in this field.

There is a strong argument that people throughout the world have a right to receive the medicines they need in an appropriate, affordable, and timely way. Global Pharmaceutical Policy describes the laws, policies, and customs relating to the development and provision of medicines, identifies their strengths and weakness, and then proposes global solutions for getting things better. Here is a masterpiece written in a clear and elegant style. Together, Dukes and Abbott have experience and insight that are unrivalled. Joe Collier, Emeritus Professor of Medicines Policy, St George s, University of London, UK Pharmaceuticals play a central role in health care throughout the world. The pharmaceutical industry is beset with difficulties as increasing research and development expenditure yields fewer new treatments. Public and private budgets strain under the weight of high prices and limited access. The world s poor see little effort to address diseases prevalent in less affluent societies, while the world s wealthy are overusing prescription drugs, risking their health and wasting resources. As the global economic crisis exacerbates pressure on health care budgets, a new presidential administration in Washington, DC has committed to broad health care reform. These circumstances form the backdrop for this extraordinarily timely examination of the global system for the development, production, distribution and use of medicines. The authors are acknowledged experts in the fields of pharmaceutical law and policy, with many years experience advising governments, multilateral organizations and policy-makers on issues involving innovation, access and use of medicines. Supported by a team of independent scientists, doctors and lawyers, they take an insightful look at the issues surrounding global regulation of the pharmaceutical sector, and offer pragmatic suggestions for reform. This book will be of interest to government policy-makers, members of industry, healthcare professionals, teachers, students and lawyers in the fields of public health, intellectual property and international trade.

An exploration into the current status and future growth of the global pharmaceutical industry and the changing needs of global health. It provides comprehensive coverage of the role of the global pharmaceutical industry in general, and the participation of BRICAs in specific, to address global health needs.

This book uniquely combines the study of business and economics with the study of medicine, science, and technology--all within a regulatory framework--and provides the reader with a broad perspective necessary to understand the multifaceted global pharmaceutical industry. It provides a solid introduction for anyone who desires to enter or excel within the industry today yet also provides a fascinating historical perspective for those interested in economics and business development on a global scale.

Global Issues in Pharmaceutical Marketing presents a balanced, research-based perspective combined with a practical outlook on the current issues faced by the ethical, biotech, and generic segments of the pharmaceutical industry. It integrates an analytical approach with a global view to examine such issues as market access, digital marketing, emerging markets, branding, and more. The book covers not only the North American and Western European markets, but focuses on non-Western markets, such as Latin America and Asia. Each chapter is written as an individual essay about a given issue, and where relevant, original cases are provided to illustrate how these issues are currently managed by the global industry. This book offers a thoughtful and thorough description of the industry’s current situation and integrates the latest scholarly and industry research from different disciplines in one place for convenient reference. It may be used in the following ways: To stimulate class discussions and inspire new streams of research for academics and graduate students; To introduce the industry to those interested in a career, to orient new industry hires, or to provide experienced practitioners with current research that will enhance their knowledge; To provide an understanding of the industry for those in the healthcare sector, such as physicians, pharmacists, as well as medical and pharmacy students; and To present recent and relevant research for those in government, public or private payers, and public policy environments to facilitate their decision making. This book will prove to be a useful resource and an important source of information for academics and their students, professionals, and policymakers around the world.