[e-drug] Expanding the WHO Model Essential Medicines List (6)

["Kevin Outterson" <Kevin.Outterson@mail.wvu.edu>]

E-DRUG: Expanding the WHO Model Essential Medicines List (6)
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Perhaps I have missed something, but surely cost is an important factor in whether a drug or vaccine is essential.  As an example, the 2 new vaccines for HPV may be cost effective in the US at $360 per course of vaccination, (per Goldie, et al.) but certainly that price is much too high for widespread use in the less affluent countries wherein 93% of the mortality burden for cervical cancer occurs.  The Merck vaccine has been considered essential enough for mandatory vaccination in some US states, but will not be affordable under current conditions in countries like India which suffer a significant number of deaths from cervical cancer.  

Can you explain in more detail why "if available at generic prices" should not be a possible category? [Original message in this thread - May 3]

Kevin Outterson
Professor of Law 
West Virginia University & Boston University (July 1)
304 293 8282  kevin.outterson@mail.wvu.edu
SSRN Author Page:  ssrn.com/author=340746
"Kevin Outterson" <Kevin.Outterson@mail.wvu.edu>