Pharmacy of the World: China’s Quest to Be the No. 1 Drugmaker

China’s pharmaceuticals market is already the second biggest in the world after the U.S., thanks in large part to domestic demand from hospitals. Now, it wants to take the final step and surpass the U.S. However, its methods -- from suspicions of intellectual property theft to questions over quality -- have prompted significant criticism.

China’s intellectual property laws help its companies draw on international rivals’ ideas. Robert Atkinson, the founder and president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, a U.S. think tank, said the Chinese patent system is “designed to allow Chinese companies to access patent information” from multinationals. Many businesses are reluctant to retaliate for fear of compromising their presence in the massive Chinese market.