The first journalistic source to report the statement,[1] an article published by Bloomberg Business Week, includes the statement near the end of a general arti

The first journalistic source to report the statement,[1] an article published by Bloomberg Business Week, includes the statement near the end of a general article on patent protection in India. Both the reporter and editor who put the story together are based in India and (at a wild guess, based on their names) are perhaps citizens of India. This sort of national policy issue, of course, often results in different countries coming up with differing laws. Then the countries have to resolve differences about their laws in negotiations when they look at overall trade between their countries. And that (nothing particularly nefarious) is all that is involved in the United States negotiating with India about this issue. I'm very glad that somebody is developing new medical treatments (both drugs and medical devices). All of that work is very expensive, and much of it results in products that never turn a profit. I can't think of any social justice reason why my childhood best friend, a first-generation college graduate from a working class family, who now develops medical devices, should have to work for free. Nor can I think of any social justice reason why anyone who needs effective medical treatment should be without it, in general, but until new medical treatments are invented, wishing doesn't make that so. India's approach to compulsory licensing on non-negotiated terms for new treatments developed outside India may be very politically appealing in India, but it's not completely clear that that is the best national policy for responding to the grave health problems[2] that still exist in India. [1] http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-01-21/merck-to-bristol-myers-face-more-threats-on-india-drug-patents http://www.businessweek.com/news/2014-01-21/merck-to-bristol... [2] http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-06-23/news/40134749_1_stop-tb-department-mario-raviglione-jmm-meeting http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-06-23/news... http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303444204577460734274201756 http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB1000142405270230344420... http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2012/Facing-the-Reality-of-Drug-Resistant-Tuberculosis-Challenges-and-Potential-Solutions-in-India.aspx http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2012/Facing-the-Reality-of-Drug-R... http://www.tbcindia.nic.in/pdfs/RNTCP%20Response%20DR%20TB%20in%20India%20-%20Jan%202012%20update.pdf http://www.tbcindia.nic.in/pdfs/RNTCP%20Response%20DR%20TB%2... AFTER EDIT: I see some wild karma swings on this comment, so feel free to tell me what you really feel about this comment. India, of course, would have no objection to how drug companies market drugs if only it had a country full of companies that are already innovating affordably to solve all the health problems of India.