Q. Pharmaceutical patents grant protection to the patentee for the duration of the patent term.
The patentees enjoy the liberty to determine the prices of medicines, which is time-limited to the period of monopoly, but could be unaffordable to the public. Such patent protection offered to the patentees is believed to benefit the public over the longer term through innovations and research and development (R&D), although it comes at a cost, in the nature of higher prices for the patented medicine. The patent regime and price protection through a legally validated high price for the medicine during the currency of the patent provide the patentee with a legitimate mechanism to get returns on the costs incurred in innovation and research.
Q. Based on the above passage, the following assumptions have been made:
1. Patent protection given to patentees puts a huge burden on public’s purchasing power in accessing patented medicines.
2. Dependence on other countries for pharmaceutical products is a huge burden for developing and poor countries.
3. Providing medicines to the public at affordable prices is a key goal during the public health policy design in many countries.
4. Governments need to find an appropriate balance between the rights of patentees and the requirements of the patients.
Which of the above assumptions are valid?
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 1 and 4
(c) 3 and 4
(d) 2 and 3
Question from UPSC Prelims 2023 CSAT
Model Answer:
Q1: Correct Answer – (b) 1 and 4
Explanation –
The passage clearly states that the patent protection allows patentees to set high prices for their medicines, which could be unaffordable for the public, validating assumption 1. The passage also implies that there is a need for balance between the rights of patentees (to recoup their R&D costs) and the needs of the public (to access affordable medicines), validating assumption 4.
Assumption 2 is not discussed in the passage, and while assumption 3 could be inferred, it is not directly addressed in the passage. Therefore, the correct answer is (b) 1 and 4.
