This is yet another perverse collision of care and market regulation. Other examples abound. Why do we accept this? Do we even dare think of alternatives?<p>What if western governments stop enforcing drug development intellectual rights? Not going to happen before hell freezes over, but let&#x27;s have a short thought experiment.<p>Quality health care for all would probably blossom thanks to more access to affordable drugs than ever. Drug development would probably slow down significantly without compensating measures. But would that be so bad? Medical research is increasingly a game of diminishing returns... Many but the rarest disease puzzles have been solved already. And the huge profit margins show the current drug development system has proven inefficient handling these rare corner cases. Think <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Alexion_Pharmaceuticals" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;en.wikipedia.org&#x2F;wiki&#x2F;Alexion_Pharmaceuticals</a> . With more patents starting to expire, the existing drug development model will only get more inefficient...<p>Aren&#x27;t there more efficient ways to incentivise drug research?<p>Crazy idea... Bootstrap an open source drug with maecenate and&#x2F;or public funding, or market an existing generic with a sympathetic history. Make it super easy for people to donate something extra on top of the drug price. Think a tip at the pharmacy, directly to the researcher&#x27;s drug development budget. Their drug cured them or their loved ones! Put a picture of the research team on the packaging. Show people these researchers are heroes.