WHO: poor countries need cheaper drugs

Can pharmaceutical drug companies make HIV drugs cheaper and more available to poorer countries where AIDS is reaching higher levels? That is the question that the U.N. asked to pharmaceutical companies this week, but warned it did not want to slow innovation in the drug industry as a result.

Global drug development, patenting and pricing are issues that seem to have heated debate in the global medical arena, and this one is no different.

While drug companies must make a profit to fund future business and have resources for other breakthroughs, can they afford to give away medicines and such or provide them at very cheap prices? Since governments all over the world aren't really the same, that issue won't ever be solved to the complete satisfaction of all parties involved.