Why does one-third of the global population not have access to essential medicines? What drives new drug research priorities? How do we manage the ethical, legal and social challenges associated with improving drug access? Answering these questions and more, this book is one of the first comprehesive and critical guides to global pharmaceutical policy issues. This multidisciplinary book covers core issues in clear, short chapters. It is a one-stop resource for students, policy makers and academics. Bringing together the insights of over thirty different specialists from around the world, this book discusses: * current regulation of the industry* ethical issues in developing and distributing drugs* how it prices and markets drugs* recommendations on how to improve pharmaceutical policy* the importance of pharmaceuticals * the structure of the pharmaceutical industry * what drugs are needed on a worldwide scale