Big Pharma and US Lobby Groups

["chubbyduck" (Chris Herne)]

The arrogance of Ashley Wills comment that "if Thailand stopped applying compulsory licensing, it would be widely welcomed by the US and international community" is to be expected from someone on the payroll of the big drug companies.

As a member of the international community I certainly don't welcome his suggestion and since when did he become the self-appointed representative of the international community.

His disregard for the legality of Thailand's action and clear lack of concern for those poor Aids sufferers unable to receive the life-sustaining treatments is breathtaking in its hypocracy and lack of human compassion.

Thankfully the Thai Government puts the welfare of its people before the obscene profits and exploitation of the Big Pharma drug monopoly, and refuses to be intimidated by its downgrading to the Priority Watch List.

[robin]

Chubby D,
Maybe you missed part of the story but Thailand is in the process of taking 15 drugs, not all of which are for life threatening illnesses, not just the aids related ones. Also there are about 88,000 Thais who require the drug that has been used as a focal point by the media. Thailand certainly has sufficient resources to deal with that number. The other half of the coin is that Thailand has negelected to hold up their end of the bargain regarding the remainder of intellectual property rights items.
If Thailand truly can't pay to treat 88,000 out of 65,000,000 of their people then there is a much larger problem than has been disclosed by any Thai official to date.
I agree that the drugs are too expensive, but don't agree with the use of aids patients as hostages in seeking ransom from drug companies. You might note that they didn't use the cholesterol reducing drug as their cause banner. The Thais are intimidated by being watch listed, it was not a threat it happened. Thais need to address all of their responsibilities in the area of intellectual property rights before they start selective enforcement.

[chubbyduck]

Robin,
Guess I did miss that. Didn't know about the other drugs. Do you have any more info or a link about this.

The point is that under the TRIPS agreement, Thailand and any other country is legally allowed to do what they have done without notifying or entering into any discussions with the Pharma manufacturers. If they don't like it or believe it to be unfair they should try to have the provision amended or removed. They certainly have enough money to undertake an intensive lobbying campaign.

In any event, the real cure for AIDS, etc does not lie with a pharmaceutical solution from any of the drug companies. Certainly more affordable drugs would temporarily help sufferers until they are able to undertake alternative treatments that will allow them to be weaned off these mainstream drugs.

[CrazyAhmadinejad]

Thankfully the Thai Government puts the welfare of its people before the obscene profits and exploitation of the Big Pharma drug monopoly, and refuses to be intimidated by its downgrading to the Priority Watch List.

Here is the Crux of the matter. Thailand has no respect for anyone outside it's borders. What about life threatening famine in some other country that want's to "copy" (steal) Thai fragrant rice? Why can Thailand steal one item on "moral grounds" yet be offended when another country has the same "Moral grounds"? It seems, the moral that Thailand is basing it's arguments on apply only to Thai's and only inside Thailand.

What about people who have these diseases inside the country that produces those medications? You will take the product of another country, allow the citizens of that country to see you take it - those who need it themselves and cannot afford it - and then you expect to have good future trade relations with that country? Although these companies are big-pharma..they are still national assets.

If there is a moral that Thailand want's to promote then it should be doing it on a international level..Instead, it is using a moral argument to justify it's xenophobic, protectionistic ultra-nationalism, that is aimed at promoting nothing more than one political power.

[Profiler]

Thankfully the Thai Government puts the welfare of its people before the obscene profits and exploitation of the Big Pharma drug monopoly, and refuses to be intimidated by its downgrading to the Priority Watch List.

Here is the Crux of the matter. Thailand has no respect for anyone outside it's borders. What about life threatening famine in some other country that want's to "copy" (steal) Thai fragrant rice? Why can Thailand steal one item on "moral grounds" yet be offended when another country has the same "Moral grounds"? It seems, the moral that Thailand is basing it's arguments on apply only to Thai's and only inside Thailand.

What about people who have these diseases inside the country that produces those medications? You will take the product of another country, allow the citizens of that country to see you take it - those who need it themselves and cannot afford it - and then you expect to have good future trade relations with that country? Although these companies are big-pharma..they are still national assets.

If there is a moral that Thailand want's to promote then it should be doing it on a international level..Instead, it is using a moral argument to justify it's xenophobic, protectionistic ultra-nationalism, that is aimed at promoting nothing more than one political power.

Well I don't agree either but isn't that what US did too? People went off to Canada to buy half price but the pharmaceutical companies went off the chart when they found out and there was dispute when the US government want to put a ban on canadian drugs.

[ATM]

Thankfully the Thai Government puts the welfare of its people before the obscene profits and exploitation of the Big Pharma drug monopoly, and refuses to be intimidated by its downgrading to the Priority Watch List.

Here is the Crux of the matter. Thailand has no respect for anyone outside it's borders. What about life threatening famine in some other country that want's to "copy" (steal) Thai fragrant rice? Why can Thailand steal one item on "moral grounds" yet be offended when another country has the same "Moral grounds"? It seems, the moral that Thailand is basing it's arguments on apply only to Thai's and only inside Thailand....

hi crazy, we fully agree with chubby and totally disagree with you.
1. the profits & business of the big pharmas are obscene indeed. they are ready to kill for profit as proven many times.
2. thailand has more respect for others than others have for thailand (just look at your own rant)
3. thailand is the biggest rice exporter in the world but does not sell its rice at a price 100times the cost of production.
4. the western countries copied and stole from poorer countries what ever they liked and still do so. (even humans!)
5. their so-called 'intellectual property laws' are nothing else but 'lese majeste laws' protecting their 'god mammon'.

1. the big pharmas are businesses therefore they have shareholders and employees to look after
2.thailand respects no one
3.capitalism is about getting the best price for your product you can if there was suddenly a massive world rice shortage thailands rice industry would definetly capitalise on this.
4 if poorer countries had anything worth copying they wouldn't be poor
5. these laws protect everyones right to make money off there ideas and inventions, a thai could never understand this as they have never come up with an original idea or invention

[Sean Moran]

Here is the Crux of the matter. Thailand has no respect for anyone outside it's borders. What about life threatening famine in some other country that want's to "copy" (steal) Thai fragrant rice? Why can Thailand steal one item on "moral grounds" yet be offended when another country has the same "Moral grounds"? It seems, the moral that Thailand is basing it's arguments on apply only to Thai's and only inside Thailand....

hi crazy, we fully agree with chubby and totally disagree with you.
1. the profits & business of the big pharmas are obscene indeed. they are ready to kill for profit as proven many times.
2. thailand has more respect for others than others have for thailand (just look at your own rant)
3. thailand is the biggest rice exporter in the world but does not sell its rice at a price 100times the cost of production.
4. the western countries copied and stole from poorer countries what ever they liked and still do so. (even humans!)
5. their so-called 'intellectual property laws' are nothing else but 'lese majeste laws' protecting their 'god mammon'.

1. the big pharmas are businesses therefore they have shareholders and employees to look after
2.thailand respects no one
3.capitalism is about getting the best price for your product you can if there was suddenly a massive world rice shortage thailands rice industry would definetly capitalise on this.
4 if poorer countries had anything worth copying they wouldn't be poor
5. these laws protect everyones right to make money off there ideas and inventions, a thai could never understand this as they have never come up with an original idea or invention

1. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/doctors/oa ... sical.html
2. http://funlok.com/index.php/story/house ... rrors.html
3. The last World Rice Shortage was caused by demand for export rice to make biofuel for private learjets.
4. You cannot eat money.
5. Why are you here then?

[ATM]

not here for much longer

[ATM]

by the way i am the friendliest dog you could ever meet i think the mirrors must be malfunctioning

[ATM]

whats the hippocratic oath got to do with drug companies they are chemists not doctors