E-drug: Demonstration in Thailand
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Thai AIDS activists are demonstrating outside the Ministry of Public
Health in Bangkok, demanding the use of compulsory license for ddI
(see Reuters story below). The demonstration will be ongoing for at
least three days.
More than a month ago the Thai Government Pharmaceutical
Organization (GPO) asked for the use of compulsory license for ddI.
No compulsory license has been issued yet nor have there been any
attempts to negotiate a voluntary license with Bristol Myers Squibb.
Public Health Minister Korn Dabaransi previously said he wants Bristol
Myers Squibb to reduce the price of ddI instead of using compulsory
license; so far the price is unchanged.
Tido von Schoen-Angerer, MD
MSF Thailand
msfdrugs@asianet.co.th
[Distributed as fair use. HH]
Wednesday December 22, 2:19 am Eastern Time
THAIS PROTEST U.S. FIRM'S AIDS DRUG MONOPOLY
By Sutin Wannabovorn
BANGKOK, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Representatives of the estimated one
million Thais infected with HIV set up camp outside Thailand's Health
Ministry on Wednesday to demand that the government break a U.S.
drug firm's monopoly on an AIDS drug.
About 100 protesters, wearing yellow T-shirts, called on the
government to issue a compulsory license to allow cheap local
production of the drug didanosine which is produced and marketed by
U.S. drug giant Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY - news).
They erected tents and vowed to continue their protest around the
clock until Friday.
``We are demanding the government impose a compulsory license to
give the Public Health Ministry the right to produce the essential drug
didanosine,'' said Paisal Tanhood, chairman of the HIV Infection
Network, which has more than 20,000 members.
Didanosine, also known as ddI, is one of a two-drug anti-retroviral
cocktail prescribed for Thais with HIV to help them live longer.
But campaigners say the vast majority of those infected cannot afford
the treatment because of the high price of ddI.
Thailand's Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) began
producing the other drug -- AZT, or zidovudine -- in 1995 at about a
quarter of the price of the imported version.
Compulsory licensing would allow the local production didanosine on
payment of a royalty, but no developing country has yet taken the
radical step, fearing trade retaliation by the United States to protect
the interests of drug companies.
DRUG TOO EXPENSIVE FOR MOST THAIS
In Thailand, ddI costs about 49 baht ($1.25) per tablet, putting the
monthly cost of the two-drug cocktail in a country where the minimum
monthly wage is 5,400 ($138), at about 8,000 baht ($205).
Activists say Bristol-Myers has offered to cut ddI's price, but not to
the extent local production would eventually allow.
A ministry spokesman said talks were continuing between the GPO
and Bristol-Myers but he declined to elaborate.
Bristol-Myers officials were not available for comment on the licensing
issue.
Paisal, 34, who was diagnosed HIV positive eight years ago, told
Reuters he was unable to afford ddI, but his wife was using it free
under a trial programme at a government hospital.
``Only five percent of about one million people with HIV have access
to ddI because it's so expensive, so cutting the price a bit is not a
good solution for under-privileged people,'' he said.
Activists said making ddI in Thailand was the best solution, but they
doubted the government would be bold enough to stand up to the
threat of U.S. pressure.
``DdI is the hope for those with HIV, but I don't think Thailand will
dare take the radical action in colliding head-on with the United States
because of the fear of trade retaliation,'' Saree Aongsomwang of the
Foundation for Consumers, told Reuters.
International pressure groups, including the 1999 Nobel Peace Prize
winning aid group Medicins Sans Frontiers (Doctors Without Borders),
have been urging Thailand to make a stand on the issue.
They say Bangkok should be emboldened after U.S. President Bill
Clinton pledged on World AIDS Day on December 1 a change in U.S.
trade policy to support greater worldwide access to lifesaving
medicines.
Tido von Schoen-Angerer, MD
MSF Thailand
msfdrugs@asianet.co.th
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