U.S. Govt. Favors More AIDS Deaths to Profit Loss for ‘Big Pharma’
The Thai government’s current policy of making AIDS treatments and other drugs available at affordable prices to patients who otherwise would die horrible deaths, is under attack from the current administration in the U.S. The thought of poor or working class people receiving life saving medical care and relief of suffering is looked on as a great affront to most supporters of the Bush administration. Even though World Trade Organization rules plainly state that countries are allowed to license generic versions of patented drugs for local distribution in cases of emergency such as the AIDS crisis, Thailand is under attack from Washington for putting compassion before profit. The Pharmaceutical companies who hold the original patents still receive royalties at a somewhat reduced rate.
In a report released in Washington on Friday, U.S. Trade Representative stated ”While the United States recognizes the importance of Thailand’s public health challenges, Thailand’s recent policies and actions regarding the compulsory licensing of patented medicines have contributed to concerns regarding the adequate and effective protection of IPR in Thailand,” while going on to announce that in retaliation, Thailand will remain one of nine countries on the U.S.T.R.’s watch list over intellectual property rights. The report continued, ‘The United States is awaiting further information on the new Thai government’s approach in this area and hopes to work constructively on this and other IPR issues in order to strengthen Thailand’s IPR regime.’
Robert Weismann of the non-profit group Essential Action says ”USTR knows it has no reasonable complaint against Thailand, but Big Pharma wants it to say something.” Aids Access Foundation director, Nimit Tienudom says Washington ”wants to protect its own trade benefits without respecting the desire of other middle-income countries like Thailand to extend medical access at all”.
U.S. Govt. Favors More AIDS Deaths to Profit Loss for ‘Big Pharma’
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