[Ip-health] Huffington Post on Thai CLs

[Benjamin Krohmal]

Jamie on Huffington Post:
01.25.2007

Racist and Ignorant Reactions on Thailand Compulsory License
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-love/racist-and-ignorant-
react_b_39618.html

"This week in Geneva, the World Health Organization is discussing a
report on the "Prevention and control of non-communicable diseases."
This week in Thailand, the government issued a compulsory license on
patents for clopidogrel bisulfate, a heart disease drug sold under
the trade name "Plavix," as well as compulsory licenses on patents on
the AIDS drug sold by Abbott under the name of Kaletra.  The reaction
in some quarters is that compulsory licenses for patents on AIDS
drugs are one thing, but Thailand should not touch patents on
treatments for heart disease, diabetes, cancer, or other common
diseases.

Implicit in this argument is the view that people who live in
developing country don't somehow need treatments for the same
diseases that "we" do, or that global trade rules only permit issuing
compulsory licenses for patents on AIDS treatments. It should be
obvious this is wrong on both counts.

According to the WHO's new report on non-communicable diseases,
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among both men
and women, with 80% of deaths coming in low- and middle income
countries. The WHO also said that heart disease, stroke and diabetes
are estimated to reduce the gross domestic product by between 1% and
5% per year in low-and middle-income countries experiencing rapid
economic growth.

In developing countries, the patent owners routinely price products
so that only a small number of the higher income persons can afford
the drugs. The Thailand compulsory license will make the products
available at prices that most people can afford. This is is a good
thing.

It is also untrue that the granting of compulsory licenses in
something that is suspect under global trade rules, and in fact, it
is far more common than many news reports acknowledge. Indeed, the
United States has issued several compulsory licenses since last June,
including compulsory licenses that have benefited Microsoft,
DirectTV, Toyota and Johnson and Johnson.

Before US or European Citizens criticize the Thai government, they
should do a little homework."  (the post continues with the list of
world wide compulsory licenses included in the KEI statement sent
earlier today)





Benjamin Krohmal
Coordinator - Project on Medical Innovation
Consumer Project on Technology
Tel: +1-202-332-2670 ex. 14
Fax: +1-202-332-2673
ben.krohmal@cptech.org