The marginal cost of increasing production to meet developing world needs is small. Why compulsory licensing poses such a threat as to lead to powerful opposition is hard to understand. The companies say it is to protect their intellectual property rights. 20 Parallel importing. This is importing from a country where the drug is cheaper.
Prices often bear little relation to the population's ability to pay.
Amoxil is half the price in Canada that it is in Indonesia. However, in practice it is fiercly opposed by the USA - although the USA also uses parallel importing itself for some drugs. It is becoming increasingly common and understood, including in the UK where hospitals are beginning to import drugs from Europe as a response to restricted treatment budgets. 21 Debt relief. With discharge of debt, these become more achievable.