Patented drugs limit patients’ access to public health care. Credit: Kristin Palitza/IPS

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, Dec 12 2013 (IPS) – Paul Anley, chief executive officer of Pharma Dynamics, one of South Africa’s leading generic drug companies, wants to sell a cheaper version of popular birth control pill Yasmin. But he legally cannot because German multinational Bayer has patent protection on the drug in South Africa, even though its initial patent expired in 2010.

Generic versions of the contraceptive are available in the United States and Europe, where Bayer’s patent has been revoked.

Anley says South Africa’s patent system …