Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2007. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bangkok Post - April 24, 2007
Mr Boyce made the call during a one-hour meeting with Public Health Minister Dr Mongkol na Songkhla and other senior health officials yesterday.
The ministry has already resorted to compulsory licensing for the importation and production of generic versions of Aids-related medicines and a blood thinning drug.
After the meeting, Mr Boyce suggested the parties concerned should talk and reach a common ground on reasonable prices for the drugs.
While he realised that Thailand had the right to use compulsory licensing under an agreement with the World Trade Organisation (WTO), he would like an attempt at negotiating first.
Compulsory licensing may not be necessary if the prices of patented drugs were reduced through negotiations between the Thai government and the US drug companies, he said.
The ambassador said the US government had yet to make any decision concerning the listing of Thailand as a patent violator, saying the matter did not only involve compulsory licensing.
Dr Mongkol said the US ambassador understood Thailand's stance on compulsory licensing and wanted to see the interests of all parties protected.
"The US is a law-abiding country," he added.
The minister was scheduled to begin a two-day visit to the US tomorrow to explain the need for compulsory licensing.
He was forced to postpone the trip for three weeks because of health problems.
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