This book examines the impact of economic reforms in India on the pharmaceutical industry and access to medicines. It traces the changing production and trade pattern of the industry, research and development (R&D) preferences and strategies of Indian pharmaceutical firms, patent system alongside pricing policy measures and their shortcomings. It also analyses the public health financing system in India driven largely by out-of-pocket expenditure - about 60 per cent - and characterised by very high share of medicines in total health expenditure.

A masterful insight into a topical area, the work will be indispensable to those working on pharmaceutical industry and public policy. It will be of interest to researchers, scholars, students, and policy-makers of economics, industrial policy, public policy, intellectual property rights and health financing.

Reji K. Joseph is Associate Professor at the Institute for Studies in Industrial Development (ISID), New Delhi, India.

1. Introduction 2. An Overview of Indian Pharmaceutical Industry and Health 3. Patterns of Trade in the Indian Pharmaceutical Industry 4. Pharmaceutical R&D in India 5. IPRs and Access to Medicines 6. The Drug Price Control System in India and Access to Medicines 7. Summary and Conclusion