This article discusses the WTO agreement for poorer countries to copy patented drugs. The waiver applies to 48 countries and include many African and Asian countries.
http://theconversation.com/worlds-poorest-countries-allowed-to-keep-copying-patent-protected-drugs-50799
The last sentence of this article hit pretty hard: ” Overall, the poorest countries account for less than 2% of the world’s gross domestic product and about 1% of global trade in goods. Not a big business opportunity for big pharma.”
This brings to light a pretty insidious aspect of pharmaceutical care. At the end of the day, the healthcare system is a business just like the rest of them. Reminds me of a recently approved NIH Study to advance the “health aspects” of alcoholic beverages–funded privately by alcohol companies. But can you blame any of the parties? When funding is needed, you tailor the study to what the funder wants. (a bit unrelated to your post, but the similarity lies in the economic motivation and how the law can seem to just serve that bottom line interest)