[Ip-health] Chalerm aims for more compulsory licensing for essential drugs

[Kannikar KIJTIWATCHAKUL]

Chalerm aims for more compulsory licensing for essential drugs

By By Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation.
Published on November 19, 2008

The Public Health Ministry is planning to impose more compulsory licensing =
on essential drugs in a bid to save patients suffering from killer diseases=
 - similar to the action taken over the past two years with HIV, heart dise=
ase and cancer drugs, said Minister, Chalerm Yoobamrung.

" I promise to impose more compulsory licensing on lifesaving drugs within =
my political term," he said.
Chalerm said he had discussed with the ministry's permanent secretary, Dr P=
rat Boonyarat about the enforcement of compulsory licensing of essential dr=
ugs in the near future, but resolution had yet to be finalised. He accepted=
 that the enforcement of compulsory licensing for essential drugs could red=
uce their cost and help patients to get more access to them.

According to the World Trade Organisation, use of the Agreement on Trade Re=
lated Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) has allowed WTO membe=
rs better access to essential medicines when patients' lives were at stake,=
 but it should not be applied for commercial use.

Thailand has imposed compulsory licensing for HIV/Aids, heartdisease and ca=
ncer drugs since last year, cutting the price of these essential drugs for =
more than 100,000 patients.

Earlier, former Health Minister, Chaovarat Chanweerakul, said he had planne=
d meetings with the Foreign and Commerce ministries to discuss an access me=
chanism to essential drugs, instead of imposing compulsory licensing. But n=
o meeting has been held so far.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/worldhotnews/read.php?newsid=3D30088740
=A0Kannikar KIJTIWATCHAKUL (Kar)
Access to Essential Medicine Campaigner
MSF Belgium - Thailand Mission,
522 Mooban Nakorn Thai 14,
Ladphrao Soi 101/1,
Bangkapi, Bangkok 10240
Tel (+66) 2370 3087
Fax (+66) 2731 1432
Mobile (+66) 85-070-8954