The primacy of public health considerations in defining poor quality medicines

[...]we suggest that the current situation could potentially be helped and trust increased if organizations with potential conflicts of interests and IP perspectives issued unambiguous statements eschewing the use of IP law to counter generic medicines. Conclusions Counterfeit medicines should be defined in terms of harm to health, with punishments appropriate for the injury or killing of patients. [...]it is imperative that public health institutions, ministries, and lawyers, and not primarily IP specialists or industrial and trade bodies, take the strategic lead in countering poor quality medicines.