PHA-Exchange> WHO DG regrets her C-License statement

[Claudio]

From: martin khor 



Third World Network
www.twnside.org.sg

The WHO Director General Dr. Margaret Chan, has sent a letter to Thailand's Health Minister expressing regret for the embarrassment caused to his government by remarks she was reported to have made in Bangkok that were critical of the compulsory licenses granted by the government for three medicines. 

The letter follows the deep offence that Dr. Chan's comments had caused the government and particularly the Minister of Public Health.

Dr. Chan's reported comments had also caused outrage among international health NGOs and grassroots health movements worldwide, especially groups representing people living with HIV-AIDS. More than 400 groups and individuals have sent her a protest letter asking her to change her views.

In her letter, Dr. Chan assures the Health Minister that its issuance of compulsory licenses is "entirely the prerogative of the government, and fully in line with the TRIPS agreement", that the WHO "unequivocally supports the use by developing countries of the flexibilities within the TRIPS agreement", including the use of compulsory licensing, and that "there is no requirement for countries to negotiate with patent holders before issuing a compulsory licence."

The Director General however repeats the main theme of her speeches when she was in Bangkok recently, that the multinational drug companies are "part of the solution" and that it would be "pragmatic" for the government have prior negotiations with them.   
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