Day of Dialogue For decades, patients, doctors, ethicists, policymakers, and others have debated the economics of the pharmaceutical industry. What is the best way to get medications to the people who need them, regardless of their ability to pay for these drugs? Can prices be lowered without jeopardizing basic research for new drugs? Are drug company pricing practices monopolistic? What are the legal and ethical obligations related to drugs developed—partially or fully—with public funds? The Population Council convened a daylong meeting of an eminent group of academics and scientists; representatives from the nonprofit sector, the pharmaceutical industry, foundations, and government donor agencies; and practicing lawyers and doctors—all of whom have some connection with pharmaceutical products. The purpose of this “Day of Dialogue” was to explore ways of getting medicinal products—especially those invented and developed using public funding—into the hands of poor people worldwide. The report of this October 2005 meeting is now available for download at http://www.popcouncil.org/pdfs/DayOfDialogue.pdf. (Return to issue contents)
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