Patent barriers to affordable drug prices

The Government needs to look into removing patent barriers that contribute to high drug prices in the country before turning to social health insurance scheme (SHI) to finance the population’s rising healthcare cost, says Penang-based Third World Network (TWN).

Unnecessary patent monopoly and additional patents that extend monopolies beyond 20 years have pushed up the cost of some crucial medications, according to TWN programmes director Chee Yoke Ling.