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Thai PLHIV demonstrate at US embassy |
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Friday, 04 May 2007 |
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May 3rd, the Thai Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (TNP+) and Aids
Access foundation and other activitists (such as APN+, ITPC) held a
demonstration in front of the US embassy in Bangkok. Activists carried
banner that reads '' Evil USTR: Stop threatening access to treatment in
Thailand".
The demonstration was to express the dismay and outrage at the US
Trade Representative Office (USTR) recent decision to downgrade Thailand from
''watch list'' to ''Priority Watch List'' in response to Thailand's decision to
issue 3 compulsory licences (CL) aimed at increasing access to essential
medicines in Thailand. US law enables the US to take trade action or seek
dispute settlements with countries placed on these lists.
 The US
Ambassador in Thailand, Mr Ralph Boyce, said that the ministry of health's
decision to issue the CLs was one of the factors in the downgrade. Undue
pressure from Abbott laboratories and other pharmaceutical giants affected by
the recent CLs has also been cited by many as another critical factor. The
downgrade has come despite the CL being in complete compliance with World Trade
organisation's rules and Thai law. The decision is a total reflection of the
unjust pressure and influance that drug companies have over the USTR and their
desire to intimidate developing countries from utilizing the flexibilities
afforded them in WTO's TRIPS agreement. This agreement explicitely states that
TRIPS can and should be interpreted in light of the goal to promote access to
medicines for all. This hostile and agressive retaliation by the USTR and drug
companies is out of step with WTO rules and sets a dangerous precedent for other
developing countries who wish to issue compulsary licences for essential
medicines. The USTR and pharmaceutical companies must respect the laws of the
WTO in the interests of public health.
On April 26 HIV/AIDS activitists rallied in over 20 countries around the world in support of
Thailand's CL and protest of Abbott's unprecedented and extreme decision to
refuse to register any new drugs in Thailand and the withdraw of those drugs
awaiting registration approval.
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