Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2008. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Bangkok Post - June 7, 2008
Apiradee Treerutkuarkul
The minister indicated that the end of CL could come in the near future "because we've got sufficient drugs for treating major diseases like Aids, heart diseases and cancer.
"[CL] is not right, especially when the drugs industry has already invested billions in research and development," he said on the sidelines of his talks with a joint committee comprising representatives of pharmaceutical companies and patients groups and officials from the Commerce, Foreign Affairs, and Public Health ministries, to review the CL policy.
The committee was formed last month at the US Trade Representative's request and was seen as a bid to upgrade Thailand from the Priority Watch List to a better trade status with the US.
Mr Chaiya's comments came shortly after the Commerce Ministry scheduled a trip to the US next week to propose an "action plan" focusing on a serious crackdown on intellectual property violations.
Public health activists are worried the talks will involve the policy on life-saving medicines.
Saree Ongsomwang, manager of the Foundation for Consumers, criticised Mr Chaiya's comments.
"It clearly shows Mr Chaiya never understood the necessity of announcing compulsory licences at all during his past few months in office," she said.
Mr Chaiya said on his first day in office that he would cancel the CL policy on drug patents initiated by the previous Surayud Chulanont government.
But he later changed his mind after coming under attack from an alliance of patients and health activists.
They also gathered 20,000 signatures to petition the Senate to oust him due to his decision to review the CL policy and transfer many respected health officials.
The Surayud government announced the CL policy in order to import generic versions of Aids, heart and cancer drugs to treat patients under the universal healthcare scheme, which benefits 48 million people.
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