[Ip-health] Govt urged to reconsider CL policy: Glivec 'doesn't need' compulsory licence

[Joana Ramos]

www.bangkokpost.net/News/21Jul2007_news04.php

Bangkok Post
21 July 2007


Govt urged to reconsider CL policy

Glivec 'doesn't need' compulsory licence

APIRADEEE TREERUTKUARKUL

The government should think carefully before issuing compulsory
licensing to bypass patents on cancer drugs since such action may cause
long-term adverse effects, said Ramathibodi hospital doctor Saengsuree
Joota yesterday. Issuing a compulsory licence (CL) for Glivec may
adversely affect some 900 leukaemia patients who already have access to
Imatinib, a generic version of the cancer drug, through a philanthropic
programme, said Dr Saengsuree, who also is president of the Thai Society
of Hematology.

The philanthropic programme for patients could be cut once the
government decided to opt for the CL policy, she warned.

''If the government aims to bypass the patent of the leukaemia drug and
import the generic version, they should ensure that every leukaemia
patient has equal access to the medicine because so far it's not so,''
she said.

At present, employees of private companies have no access to the
treatment because the Social Security Office only approves a healthcare
fund for bone marrow transplants, which cost about 750,000-800,000 baht.

Access to the drug is now limited to leukaemia patients who are civil
servants, numbering about 200. Poor leukaemia patients, up to 800, under
the universal healthcare scheme are eligible to access the drug through
the philanthropic programme, sponsored by Swiss-based Novartis, the
original maker of the drug.

Dr Saengsuree believes patients who are private company employees should
also have access to the drug.

Glivec maker Novartis also markets the generic Imatinib.

The drug is not available for the majority of people due to its high
cost of about 1,000 baht per tablet. A leukaemia patient will have to
pay up to 1.5 million baht per year for treatment with the drug.

Public Health Minister Mongkol Na Songkhla earlier said compulsory
licensing of cancer drugs was essential since the disease was the fifth
biggest cause of death in Thailand, after accidents, HIV/Aids, heart
diseases and old age. The government spent over 1.2 billion baht last
year on the treatment of some 50,000 cancer patients under the universal
healthcare scheme run by the National Health Security Office, he said.

During his visit to Britain last month, the minister met executives of
Dabur Pharma Ltd, which makes generic versions of cancer drugs, to seek
further options for treating chronic cancer patients in Thailand.

Sirilak Suteekul, country manager of Novartis, said she did not believe
that the CL policy would be a long-term solution to improve public
access to life-saving drugs.

Public-private partnership should be improved to allow all the concerned
parties to work together and seek long-term solutions to the medicinal
access problem, she said.

Vichai Chokevivat, a health specialist chairing a committee considering
the CL policy, said the panel would thoroughly consider the pros and
cons of compulsory licensing and the existing health programmes for
leukaemia patients before sending the CL policy to the public health
minister for approval.

''Compulsory licensing is the last resort to expand access to not only
leukaemia drugs but also other cancer drugs for the public,'' he said.


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Joana Ramos, MSW
Cancer Resources & Advocacy
Seattle WA USA
+1-206-229-2420
http://ramsolink.info/
www.cancersurvivorsproject.org
www.healthyskepticism.org
www.mavinfoundation.org