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How Colombia's Drugs Battle With Novartis Could Change Healthcare in Latin America

By Mat Youkee

A showdown with the Swiss drugmaker is testing Colombia's progressive new healthcare reforms.

An ambitious healthcare reform in Colombia may be facing its toughest challenge yet: the pharmaceutical industry.

In a bold step with wide repercussions for Latin America’s healthcare sector and drug patent law, Colombia’s Ministry of Health in late April moved to unilaterally end Swiss drug giant Novartis’ patent on the expensive cancer treatment Glivec after the company refused to sell it at lower cost. This would be the country's first-ever “compulsory license,” which is when a government allows generic drug production without consent from the patent owner. 

The move could...

Read this article on the Americas Quarterly website. | Subscribe to AQ.

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