It’s now a well trained routine.
-public health officials threaten to ask for compulsory licences on new drugs, “unless” the drug company agrees to show some goodwill… The threat is then relayed in the medias.
Last example yesterday : “the National Health Security Office revealed it might propose that the Ministry of Public Health impose compulsory licenses, or CL, on four cancer drugs if the negotiations with drug companies for lower prices proved fruitless.
The drugs that could be affected include Imanitib and Letrozole from Novartis; Docetaxel from Sanofi-Aventis; and Erlotinib from Genentech“
“To apply the CL is Thailand’s last resort, unless an agreement has been reached with the pharmaceutical companies to allow poor patients to access to the drugs,” said Dr. Mongkol [Public Health Minister].“ (Bangkok Post, Nation)
This idea has been in the air since july (read here).
It’s a gross tactic. It’s once again a clear violation of IP rights and nothing less than a blackmail against foreign drugs companies.
After drugs against Aid, and the anti clotting Plavix, now the target seems to be drugs against cancer.
And tomorrow ? Painkillers ? Aspirin ? Vitamine C ? 
I’m joking, but when the “national health emergency” concept (in the WTO agreement) shall stop ?
I believe under the WTO rules and TRIPS a country has to show that an “emergency” exists and without a CL there situation will get worse, thus a generic should be allowed to be manufactured.
… Yes. But it’s up to the country… to define the word “emergency”… That’s the trick, the thin line used by Thailand.
If everybody understand that AID can be seen as a “national emergency”… however to say the same for a drug like Plavix (an anticoagulant indicated for patients with recent heart attack, recent stroke, or poor circulation in the legs, known as peripheral arterial disease), is simply a joke.
This is why I said that Thailand should continue over its path : and then declare “sleeping pills” and “painkillers” as “national emergency” too.
It will reveal the absurdity of the whole process. It’s not public health anymore. It’s just plain greed.
Thailand is not a third world country like Africa. It has the means to provide healthcare -properly- to its citizens.
But Thailand doesn’t want to pay for it. That’s all.
I agree with you 100%. I didn’t know it was up to the country, that seems a bit silly. Is 2 people who are sick an emergency. I wonder if any of these ministers are doing “friends” favors. I think when an CL is issued the generic drug had to be manufactured in that country, maybe some “back scratching” going on?