[Pharm-policy] RE: Role of Regulatory authorities and parallel imports

[richardl@bu.edu]

The dispute in South Africa over the parallel import of fluconazole reflects
a serious and neglected problem. In most developing countries the regulatory
authorities grant exclusive registration which effectively prevents parallel
importation.

At the recent National Drug Policies course held in Beirut all of the 25
countries attending except for Kosovo granted exclusive registration to the
original patent holder. This effectively gives the company monopoly status!

Richard Laing
Associate Professor of International Health
Boston University School of Public Health
715 Albany St, T4W, Boston MA 02118 USA
Tel 617 414-1444 Fax 617 638-4476
E-mail richardl@bu.edu
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