Thais forced to take action over Aids drugs
The article by Jeremiah Norris ('Drug price deals are not political footballs', August 3), equates advocacy of affordable medicines in developing countries with support for a military dictatorship in Thailand.
This is misleading and unhelpful in the midst of a serious debate over how to ensure poor people in developing countries can gain access to medicines that can improve or save their lives.
Thailand provides treatment to more than 80,000 people living with HIV and Aids today. As patients have developed natural, long-term resistance to first-line Aids medicines, the Thai government has had to switch patients to new, patented second-line medicines that are nearly 10 times more expensive. Numerous 'non-left' institutions, including the World Bank, have advised Thailand that unless the government takes action to reduce the cost of these medicines, it will be difficult to ensure treatment for thousands of patients.
It is ironic Mr Norris counsels a partnership with the drug industry, since for nearly two years the Thai government unsuccessfully approached major drug companies to reduce the prices of these medicines before issuing compulsory licences. The Thai Ministry of Health has remained open to price negotiations with drug companies that could lead to a constructive partnership.
Despite Mr Norris' claims, Thailand is not the first country to issue compulsory licences and it certainly will not be the last. Developing countries are suffering a serious and growing burden of infectious and non-communicable diseases, including HIV and Aids, cardiovascular disease and cancer.
To address these public health concerns, countries must be willing and able to use basic safeguards under international trade rules to reduce the prices of essential medicines.
