Few markets are as controlled by government as pharmaceuticals. Medicines permeate health care, are a major source of health care, and are made by one of the world’s most successful high technology industrial groups—the pharmaceutical industry. In Europe there exists both socialised healthcare systems and one of the few high tech industries in which Europe can compete with the USA and Japan. The European Union as a whole, and particularly the countries which have a thriving pharmaceutical industry, want to maintain a strong and competitive industry which provides substantial tax income and very significant …