PHA-Exchange> Statement of UK Minister Gareth Thomas on Thailand's compulsory licensing policies

[Claudio]

From: "Bala" <bala at haiap.org>
This is a statement made a couple of days ago in the UK parliament by
Gareth Thomas, Minister for International Development in response to a
written question from Sally Keeble MP.

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200607/cmhansrd/cm070306/
text/70306w0005.htm#column_1838W

-----------------------------

Thailand: HIV Infection

Ms Keeble: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development
what assessment he has made of the potential impact on access to HIV
treatment of the Government of Thailand’s issuance of compulsory
licences to produce locally or import generic versions of the drugs
efavirenz and lopinavir/ritonavir; and if he will make a statement.
[124893]

Mr. Thomas: The Thai Government only recently announced their intention
to issue compulsory licences for a number of patented medicines;
therefore the impact of this action on access to HIV treatment is not
yet clear.

We support the right of developing countries to implement the WTO
Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights
(TRIPS) as is appropriate for their circumstances and in order to
ensure access to HIV treatment. We also support the right of developing
countries to utilise the flexibilities allowed under TRIPS to ensure
affordable access to medicines to meet public health needs, this
includes the use of compulsory licensing provisions included in the
TRIPS agreement.