Joao Balieiro Bardy

My research investigates the social life of generic drugs in Brazil. Roaming through production, distribution and consumption of these medicines I focus on how their value is enacted in the different stages of its social life. Brazil generic drug policy has been praised unanimously both in the national and international level giving access to affordable medicines to its population while improving pharmaceutical industry standards. This study explores the complex interplay between state policies, market dynamics and public health through the generics point of view. The central question is: How is value enacted by generic drugs throughout their social lives? Deploying a multisited ethnographic approach the research involves fieldwork in a major pharmaceutical company in Brazil, public health centers and regulatory agencies. By analyzing these diverse perspectives, the study aims to reveal the socio-economic and health impacts of Brazil’s generic drug policies, contributing to broader discussions on global health equity and the role of state intervention in the pharmaceutical industry.