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 19, 2008
Apiradee Treerutkuarkul
He said 1.2 million tablets of clopidogrel, a cheap version of the heart drug marketed as Plavix, had arrived from the Indian-based manufacturer Cadilla Healthcare.
The medication will be immediately distributed to state hospitals throughout the country. It will be given to heart patients under the universal healthcare scheme who have waited for the medication for over a year, he said.
The import of the drug, which was placed under compulsory licensing in January last year by the Surayud Chulanont government, was delayed for a long time by legal problems.
The patent owner of the medicine, Sanofi-Aventis, had threatened to take legal action against the India-based drug manufacturer if it supplied a generic version to the Thai government.
Meanwhile, the Administrative Court has asked Public Health Minister Chaiya Sasomsab to submit additional documents explaining his decision to dismiss the entire GPO board last month, former chairman Dr Vichai Chokewiwat said.
Dr Vichai and four former board members petitioned the Administrative Court last month over their removal, which they said was unfair. The next hearing is scheduled for Monday.
Dr Vichai was a key advocate of compulsory licensing to bypass patents of Aids, heart and cancer drugs last year. The move upset multinational drug companies and the US Trade Representative.
Mr Chaiya did not appear in person at the hearing. He was represented by lawyers from the Health Ministry and the Office of the Attorney-General.
The Health Minister also denied reports he had put pressure on GPO managing director Witit Artavatkun to resign.
"I am quite pleased with Dr Witit's performance and the current board chairman Thirachai Wuthitham," he said.
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