Ideas for 17 July 2011 - The Cost of Drugs

There are many life-saving medicines that cost just a few cents to manufacture but remain beyond the reach of most of the world's population. Ideas talks to philosopher Thomas Pogge about an idea he says could radically change all that. Dr David Hadorn, director of the Centre for Access and Prioritisation In Health at the Wellington School of Medicine talks about a proposal that he says has the potential to see New Zealanders at the front of the queue for innovative new drugs. And Otago University lecturer in health economics Des O'Dea discusses the pros and cons of the Pharmac model.