From misappropriating IP to taxation without representation and poor pandemic management, what’s to like about the WHO? My recent piece in the Financial Post, here.
Reality Check
Here is the second of two papers I’ve written on Canada’s dysfunctional drug pricing system. This one takes a wider view of the intellectual deception and myths that sustain our self-defeating approach to the pharmaceutical industry.
The Kindest Cut
In the first of two papers for the Macdonald-Laurier institute examining the history and impact of drug price controls in Canada, I argue for doing away with the Patented Medicine Prices Review Board and leading nations toward a more equitable sharing of the costs of pharmaceutical development. The first paper is here, and the second will be published shortly.
Richard C. Owens: On IP appropriation, just say no to the WHO
The WHO, presumably trying to ensure we’ll be less prepared for the next pandemic even than this one, is considering requiring intellectual property rights to vaccines and treatments to be overridden in the event of another public health crisis. The op-ed is here.
Opinion: Time to decide: Do we want foreign R&D or not?
My op-ed, with the redoubtable Nigel Rawson, on impediments to life sciences investment in Canada.
Richard C. Owens: On vaccine patents, the logic of bandits
Perhaps private enterprise and intellectual property have never served us so well as during the COVID-19 pandemic when, with sudden vaccines and numerous new therapies, the life sciences industry saved the world. In spite of that, short-sighted and spiteful people argue for seizing the intellectual property, of all types, relating to COVID-19 vaccines, therapies and devices through a World Trade Organization intellectual property waiver. In the Financial Post, I write why this is a bad idea. My op-ed is here.
Richard C. Owens: The U.S. outsources control of drug prices to Canada: weird!
Drug reimportation by the US is pretty silly, and harmful to Canada. Not that we don’t deserve it. My op-ed here.
Can Canada Innovate?
Canada has a profound cultural resistance to innovation, and reinforces that through counter-productive policies. Health care is one of the least innovative fields, and Canada does all it can to keep it that way. My recent op-ed in the Financial Post is here.
Global Trade and Intellectual Property Alliance Intellectual Property Principles
I helped draft–and aver!–these principles of intellectual property protection.
More bad ideas in drug price regulation
The federal government persists in putting forward ideas to make drugs less available and Canadians sicker. Now the US is upping the ante with ideas of its own. My Financial Post op-ed here.