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THE Thailand Thread (merged)
Re: Thailand takes on pharmaceutical giants
by Twilight » Thu 26 Apr 2007, 20:56:54
I'm just wondering how enforceable the international patent system is going to be, especially with the developing world's economic champions often being state-owned or state-influenced enterprises. The national interest is a powerful thing, especially when everyone else is too busy with their own affairs to look.
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Re: Thailand takes on pharmaceutical giants
by lotrfan55345 » Thu 26 Apr 2007, 23:02:39
Well, that country doesn't really have that much to lose in regards to financial credibility due to the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis and subsequent IMF intervention.
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Re: Thailand takes on pharmaceutical giants
by Eli » Thu 26 Apr 2007, 23:26:36
In the US current drug patent laws are written by big pharma themselves, I say screw them.
When a top selling drug comes off patent the drug companies tweak it just enough to get another patent on the drug. They could give a shit if the drug is any better, they just push it with their drug reps and sell the hell out of it.
The fact is that it is the drug companies own greed that is forcing Thailand's hands. Think how much it will cost the Thai government to produce these drugs. All the cash that the thai government is going to spend on this is not enough for the drug companies.
When a top selling drug comes off patent the drug companies tweak it just enough to get another patent on the drug. They could give a shit if the drug is any better, they just push it with their drug reps and sell the hell out of it.
The fact is that it is the drug companies own greed that is forcing Thailand's hands. Think how much it will cost the Thai government to produce these drugs. All the cash that the thai government is going to spend on this is not enough for the drug companies.
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Re: Thailand takes on pharmaceutical giants
by paimei01 » Fri 27 Apr 2007, 03:23:01
I said this is capitalism. I am sure no company wants to discover a cheap drug to cure cancer for example. They just don't want that. Isn't that a strange thing ?
In problems like this one - researching for drugs that can save lifes we need to be communist, and once discovered those drugs must be distributed freely.
I mean state funded research, I am sure there are smart people who want to go into research industry to help others, so the state will atract all of them and all will research not for profit but because that is what they like and want to do - am I too naive ?
In problems like - who can make the coolest pair of sport shoes, let it be capitalism , competition and profit all the way, shoes are not that important
In problems like this one - researching for drugs that can save lifes we need to be communist, and once discovered those drugs must be distributed freely.
I mean state funded research, I am sure there are smart people who want to go into research industry to help others, so the state will atract all of them and all will research not for profit but because that is what they like and want to do - am I too naive ?
In problems like - who can make the coolest pair of sport shoes, let it be capitalism , competition and profit all the way, shoes are not that important
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One day there will be so many houses, that people will be bored and will go live in tents. "Why are you living in tents ? Are there not enough homes ?" "Yes there are, but we play this Economy game". Now it's "Crisis" time !Too many houses! Yes, we are insane!
One day there will be so many houses, that people will be bored and will go live in tents. "Why are you living in tents ? Are there not enough homes ?" "Yes there are, but we play this Economy game". Now it's "Crisis" time !Too many houses! Yes, we are insane!
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Re: Thailand takes on pharmaceutical giants
by manu » Fri 27 Apr 2007, 04:27:12
Good for Thailand. Yes, do away with all patents. Also break up all big buisness. Take all the CEO's from all of them and string them up and let the people beat them with baseball bats.
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Re: Thailand takes on pharmaceutical giants
by davep » Fri 27 Apr 2007, 05:00:26
Under International trade regulations, Thailand's stance is more or less legal:
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')he landmark 1995 World Trade Organisation agreement on intellectual property, Trips, gives governments a large amount of freedom to bypass patents on drugs if they face any kind of health crisis.
The language of the agreement is vague. It recommends that governments consult the drug companies first, and requires them to pay a small royalty. But crucially, the government itself can decide what constitutes a health crisis.
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')he landmark 1995 World Trade Organisation agreement on intellectual property, Trips, gives governments a large amount of freedom to bypass patents on drugs if they face any kind of health crisis.
The language of the agreement is vague. It recommends that governments consult the drug companies first, and requires them to pay a small royalty. But crucially, the government itself can decide what constitutes a health crisis.
The issue appears to be whether a heart drug can be considered a response to a crisis.
India has been doing this for years. It's just that Thailand has up 'til now respected the patents.
Apparently, even the big Pharma companies are accepting this, so it's a bit misleading to state that Thailand is "taking on" big pharma. It's only Abbott, with the heart drug, that has got its knickers in a twist, and yet:
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'E')ven Abbott, which has taken the most hardline stand, is under great pressure to reverse its decision to pull future products from the Thai market.
It's good to see that the health of Thailand's citizenry comes above big Pharma's "right" to make profit.
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Re: Thailand takes on pharmaceutical giants
by Newsseeker » Fri 27 Apr 2007, 08:33:52
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('128shot', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('paimei01', 'h')ttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6587379.stm
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', ' ')The Thai government's decision to break the patents on two Aids drugs and one heart drug, so it can offer them to all Thai citizens, is a bold move, which has put the country on a collision course with the big pharmaceutical firms.
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', ' ')The Thai government's decision to break the patents on two Aids drugs and one heart drug, so it can offer them to all Thai citizens, is a bold move, which has put the country on a collision course with the big pharmaceutical firms.
This is what capitalism is, if it's not profitable it doesn't get made. And if it's profitable it gets made. No matter the consequences, money are the god of the system.
Good thing for Thailand , they seem to realize that money do not cure diseases, humans do.
So what is going to stop them from breaking other patents?
Should nations be able to void all patents in the idea of "self interest" ?
Not sticking up for big Pharm, but lets analyze the possibilities here
Respecting patents means more money for the drug companies which equals more drugs later on down the line. Breaking patents means serving a desperate people in need. Not an easy decision to make. I can see it from both sides. While it may temporarily be good to break in the long run it will hurt those they are trying to help.
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