Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2007. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bangkok Post - February 10, 2007
Apiradee Treerutkuarkul
Mr Preeya suggested the ministry issue a white paper to explain the country's need to impose compulsory licensing for the import and production of generic versions of the anti-Aids drug Efavirenz and Kaletra, and the heart disease medicine Plavix.
"Clarifying the ministry's move is essential, especially when people are still very confused whether the policy goes against international trade agreements and intellectual property rights," ministry spokesperson Suphan Srithamma said after the meeting.
Vichai Chokewiwat, chairman of the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation's board, said he agreed with the recommendation and had already started compiling information to draft the white paper.
The ministry's announcement of compulsory licensing for the drugs drew mixed reactions from pharmaceutical firms and health advocates.
Local and international experts on health policy and intellectual property rights have applauded the move, saying that it provides greater access to drugs for those in need.
But drug manufacturers demanded the government revise the decision, saying it would negatively affect their businesses.
Some academics, meanwhile, urged the government to be prepared for the repercussions of the decision to break drug patents.
Jiraporn Limpanananont, of Chulalongkorn University's faculty of pharmaceutical sciences, said health officials should be more cautious about marketing strategies of multinational drug firms affected by the compulsory licensing.
She raised the concern after the drug firm Abbott Laboratories, the patent holder of Kaletra, agreed in principle to reduce the price of Kaletra to increase its availability to HIV-positive people following the government's approval of compulsory licensing for its drug.
The firm's move has raised fears among health activists and officials that it might lead to the production of low-quality drugs as the firm might cut costs.
Earlier, Merck Co, the patent holder of Efavirenz, also offered to lower the drug price from 1,400 to 850 baht, which was still too expensive when compared with generic imports from India which cost about 650 baht.
Ms Jiraporn urged the Food and Drug Administration to conduct strict tests and quality controls on drugs subject to compulsory licences in order to ensure the public would gain quantitative and qualitative access to essential drugs.
Public Health Minister Mongkol na Songkhla said he would not negotiate with any drug company that was leaning towards such tactics.
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