This paper by Richard Wilder, Partner, Powell, Goldstein, Frazer & Murphy LLP, Washington, D.C., United States of America, is part of a series of research papers prepared for the Working Group on Health and International Economy of the Commission on Macroeconomics and Health (CMH). The Commission was set up by the Director General, World Health Organisation, under the Chairmanship of Prof. Jeffrey Sachs. As a member of the CMH and Co-chairperson of this Working Group, I have had the privilege of commissioning research papers on issues of importance for health and the international economy. I have no doubt that the analysis in this paper raises a number of significant issues which need to be debated and discussed at this crucial juncture when high prices of patented medicines are a source of major concern
