ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses public policy and ethical considerations of global drug pricing. Given the public policy issues that the drug industry has been wrestling with, this is proven to be a highly important topic in drug pricing. The social right to healthcare, need to fund future innovation and free trade principles set the stage for some difficult public policy challenges for drug companies that try to introduce a globally consistent market access and pricing policy for their drugs. Global drug pricing decisions are made in an environment where social drug access interests and global free trade ideals are in violent conflict. Gene therapy and personalized medicine are expected to substantially improve health outcomes for diseases such as cancer, but are causing additional budgetary challenges for private and public health plans. Compassionate and social considerations argue for adoption of differential or equity pricing principles in pricing essential goods.
