[Ip-health] INDIANS WECOME MOVE TO OVERCOME PATENTS ON ESSENTIAL DRUGS IN THAILAND

Thu Apr 26 05:28:30 2007

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INDIANS WECOME MOVE TO OVERCOME PATENTS ON ESSENTIAL DRUGS IN THAILAND

COMPULSORY LICENSES NEEDED TO REDUCE PRICES OF ESSENTIAL DRUGS

New Delhi, 26 April 2007 - The Delhi Network of Positive People (DNP+) and =
the Lawyers Collective HIV/AIDS Unit (LCHAU) today joined  public interest =
and health groups around the world to demonstrate their support for the act=
ions of the Thai Government to increase access to essential medicines for t=
heir citizens.

Since November 2006, Thailand has issued compulsory licenses for three pate=
nted medicines, including the AIDS drugs efavirenz and lopinavir/ritonavir.=
 This procedure authorises the Thai health authorities to begin producing o=
r importing affordable generic versions of the drugs, which are patented in=
 Thailand.

Compulsory licenses are a legally recognised means to overcome barriers in =
accessing affordable medicines. 'The use of compulsory licenses to improve =
access to essential medicines is fully consistent with the World Trade Orga=
nization TRIPS Agreement, which sets out the international rules on patents=
', says Kajal Bhardwaj of the Lawyers Collective.

In reaction to the Thai health authorities' decision, Abbott, the US-based =
multinational pharmaceutical company, has decided not to bring to the Thai =
market any of its new medicines, including a crucially important HIV/AIDS d=
rug (heat-stable lopinavir/ritonavir).

Indian organizations are strongly condemning Abbott's decision to pressuriz=
e the Thai government to withdraw the compulsory licenses. Loon Gangte from=
 DNP+, speaking at a rally held in Delhi said, 'Abbott's action of holding =
the lives of Thai patients to ransom is unethical, immoral and criminal'. H=
e added, 'compulsory licenses on medicines are necessary when essential med=
icines, which are patented, are unavailable or unaffordable.'

Since the issuance of a compulsory license on the AIDS drug Efavirenz in No=
vember 2006, the Thai Government has been able to buy generic versions of t=
he drug at much lower prices and will be able to provide it to an additiona=
l 20,000 people in need.

At the rally in New Delhi, the medical humanitarian organization MSF once a=
gain expressed its support for the Thai government and urged it to continue=
 with its policy of issuing such licenses for the production of other essen=
tial medicines. 'In our HIV treatment programmes, high prices and a lack of=
 availability of newer AIDS drugs severely restrict access to treatment. Wh=
ere patents pose a barrier to access, countries need to issue compulsory li=
censes to procure essential drugs at affordable prices', says Leena Menghan=
ey, MSF's Access Campaigner in India.

Indian organisations are also calling on their government to show support f=
or the Thai government's decision. 'The silence of our government on what i=
s happening with our Thai colleagues is unacceptable. If the Indian governm=
ent is serious about promoting access to medicines for all, they must suppo=
rt the decision to issue compulsory licenses on AIDS drugs', says Mike Tons=
ing from DNP+.

Developing countries that are under a product patent regime, are increasing=
ly feeling the need to issue licenses to procure drugs from an alternative =
producer of the essential drug. This can lead to greater local availability=
 of the medicine and also significant savings on costs for patients and the=
 national health budget.

******************

Leena Menghaney
Project Manager - India
Campaign for Access to Essential Medicines
Medecins Sans Frontieres
C 106 Defence Colony
New Delhi 110 014
Tel: +91 9811365412, +91 1124332419

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