Impactos das políticas públicas sobre as patentes dos antirretrovirais para a sustentabilidade do Programa de Distribuição Universal pelo SUS no Brasil

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the economics impacts that drug patents and certain health measures related to the population's access to AIDS drugs had to the country. Its based on analyzes of the distribution of antiretroviral drugs by Unified Health System (UHS) between 2004 and 2013 and contractual prices of the medicines that have suffered impacts of government actions during this period. It is a descriptive and analytical epidemiological study, a retrospective cross-sectional structure with use of secondary data in the public domain. Data were divided, organized by year and antiretroviral and compared with the relevant facts after or before the patents changes and other government actions. The results show that when the intellectual property of a drug is granted or expired significant changes happens with its distribution and price. The results also show the change of the medicine offers and price when the compulsory licensing of patents is used or even just the threat of its existence, confirming its effectiveness as health action. The dissertation also emphasizes the impact of technology exchange agreements, which were used in some situations by the Brazilian government to advance national production of these antiretrovirals. The results allow to positively validate the actions of the government related to ARV as essential tools for price reduction, increased distribution and consequently increased access of these drugs to the population and ensuring sustainability of the universal access to anti-retroviral agents by UHS program. The effectiveness of these actions in health care services are allows to devise positive future actions related to drugs that might benefit the country social and economically.