[Ip-health] Thai Minister says Commerce Min. to decide w/in 2 weeks re implementing cancer CLs

[Sarah Rimmington]

This is the Bangkok Post version of the story. The Nation and the Thai
News Agency have reported the same thing.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=126289

Chaiya favours CL on cancer drugs - for now

Public Health Minister Chaiya Sasomsap insisted on Monday that he
intends to persevere with the policy of issuing compulsory licences (CL)
for key cancer drugs - but the government may still decide to cancel the
patent-busting measure.

Mr Chaiya, who has ordered a review of CL policies on drugs for heart
disease, spoke on Monday with representatives from the labour union of
the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO), which is theoretically
to break patents and manufacture generic copies of expensive drugs
eventually.

He said the issue will be finalised within two weeks, and insisted he
will not withdraw the CL ordered on cancer drugs for poor patients.

He said, however, that the final decision on the issue rests with the
Commerce Ministry. The public must await the results from the commerce
ministry.

Rawai Phupaka, chairman of the GPO Labour Union said that an Indian drug
company postponed drug registration in Thailand for another 25 months
pending the public health ministry's final decision on the CL.

The postponement, he pointed out, might cause the GPO substantial
monetary damages. Until it is able to manufacture the drugs itself, the
GPO is to import and resell Indian-made copies of the drugs. (TNA)


--
Sarah Rimmington
Attorney
Essential Action, Access to Medicines Project
Washington, DC
Tel: (202) 387-8030
Cell: (202) 422-2687
www.essentialaction.org/access/