[Ip-health] Statement in the British Parliament on Thailand CL

[James Packard Love]

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070306/
text/70306w0005.htm#column_1838W

Thailand: HIV Infection

Ms Keeble: "To ask the Secretary of State for International
Development what assessment he has made of the potential impact on
access to HIV treatment of the Government of Thailand's issuance of
compulsory licences to produce locally or import generic versions of
the drugs efavirenz and lopinavir/ritonavir; and if he will make a
statement." [124893]

He replied:

Mr. Thomas: "The Thai Government only recently announced their
intention to issue compulsory licences for a number of patented
medicines; therefore the impact of this action on access to HIV
treatment is not yet clear.

We support the right of developing countries to implement the WTO
Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights
(TRIPS) as is appropriate for their circumstances and in order to
ensure access to HIV treatment. We also support the right of
developing countries to utilise the flexibilities allowed under TRIPS
to ensure affordable access to medicines to meet public health needs,
this includes the use of compulsory licensing provisions included in
the TRIPS agreement."