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Each week our two teenagers debate a hot topic. This week ...
Jeffrey Wong, 19, Diocesan Boys' School
Developing and  underdeveloped countries should be allowed to produce generic versions of expensive patented drugs to meet the needs of their people.
My argument is based on humanitarian grounds. Commercial interests are also taken into account.
I believe a balance between profit-making and human rights  should be struck.
We should never deny people of the right to live.
Take medicine as an example: it is essential for curing diseases, especially serious ones, such as malaria. However, many patients in developing  countries cannot afford the drugs they need.
Despite modern medical advances, tragedies are still taking place in poor countries. Health should never become a lesser priority than profits.
Many corporations are working on corporate social responsibility, where they give something back to the community.  The pharmaceutical industry should  follow suit by helping the needy.
It should offer a helping hand to developing and underdeveloped countries.
The industry should team up with international NGOs, like the WHO and Unicef.  As far as profit-making is concerned, the model put forward by WHO, under which the well-to-do bear the research and development cost, is a good thing.
Successful businesses should care for society.
Claudia Yip, 17, Shun Lee Catholic Secondary School
Less fortunate people who live in underdeveloped countries suffer greatly from such illnesses as Aids, malaria and tuberculosis.  They need medicine to cure or prevent  illness. However,  the patented drugs manufactured by developed countries are unaffordable for most, so they are forced to manufacture their own generic versions.
It's  natural to feel sympathetic towards them, but it doesn't  mean they should be allowed to break copyright. These unregulated sdrugs could harm patients instead of helping them.
Producing generic drugs is an open violation of the intellectual property rights of the pharmaceutical companies who spend a lot of time and money researching new medicines.
For example, an American medicine company spends
US$395 million and 12 years on average  to produce one drug.
We rely on these  companies  and if their patents are not respected and the huge cost of research and development cannot be covered, they will lose the incentive to develop other medicines.   This will put mankind at risk since we will not be able to fight  mutated or new viruses.
Underdeveloped countries should not be allowed to produce generic versions of patented drugs without authorisation  and patents should be respected.
The international community should take moral responsibility for granting loans to and helping poor countries to develop their health care systems. Tragedies are still taking place in poor countries. Health should never become a lesser priority than profits



Should developing countries produce generic versions of patented drugs?