 Email this article to a friend  Printable Version FREE Email Newsletter
(NaturalNews) The health minister of Thailand, Mongkol na Songkhla, has announced that the country will override international drug patents if pharmaceutical companies do not significantly lower their prices to make medications affordable to the country's poor. Specifically, he cited drugs for cancer and heart disease.
Jump directly to: conventional view | alternative view | bottom line
What you need to know - Conventional View• Mongkol said that most people in Thailand cannot afford patented drugs, and that the government cannot afford to subsidize them. This is why the government recently overrode patents on two HIV/AIDS drugs and one for heart disease, allowing generic production.
• This marked the first time that a Third World nation had overridden a patent on a heart medicine.
• Mongkol said that drug companies should re-negotiate their prices now, learning from the experience of Merck. The U.S.-based company had its patent for the HIV/AIDS drug Efavirenz overridden in November, and as a result Merck was recently forced to cut its prices by almost 50 percent.
• Because the government of Thailand is appointed by the military, Mongkol said he has nothing to lose by alienating the pharmaceutical companies. He said that he is not concerned about destroying the companies' profits, because they spend much more on marketing than on research and development.
• Quote: "We have to provide health services to 49 million people and with limited resources. Reaching the neglected poor is our main concern." - Mongkol na Songkhla
What you need to know - Alternative ViewStatements and opinions by Mike Adams, author of Natural Health Solutions and the Conspiracy to Keep You From Knowing About Them
• Thailand's stance on drug patents is courageous and necessary, given the profiteering and monopolistic practices of drug companies who seek to extract obscene drug profits from some of the poorest people in the world.
• Drug companies are in business to make money, not to serve humanity. Profits win out over compassion every time.
• Medicine should not be patentable. Intellectual property is out of control in the modern world, with corporations owning patents on seeds, animals and even human gene sequences. These things should belong to the people, not greedy corporations.
Bottom line• Thailand has threatened to override drug patents on heart and cancer medicine, in favor of generics, if pharmaceutical companies do not slash their prices.
Get articles like this delivered to you FREE in our popular email newsletter
|
(FREE) Thursday evening, Dec. 3 at 6pm Pacific (9pm Eastern), call in to hear the NaturalNews Talk Hour with special guests Nick Stern, Sun Warrior Protein & KC Craichy, LivingFuel - "Super Foods, Optimal Health" - Register via email to receive call-in number:
|
|
Explore NaturalPedia.com, the internet's largest natural health encyclopedia of knowledge, covering over 50,000 topics. It's free!
Visit NaturalPedia.com.
|
 FREE Report: The Five Best Anti-Viral Products to Beat Influenza, Swine Flu, Bird Flu and SARS
• Top anti-viral remedies
• Where to get them now
• Four things to avoid
• Become self-reliant
• Boost your family safety
Click here to read the FREE report now.
|
W.H.O. Declares Global Pandemic
Turn FEAR into Confidence!
Listen to the complete 3.5 hour recording on 4 audio CDs of the Health Ranger's Swine Flu Advanced Preparedness Course, covering natural anti-virals, family safety, infrastructure disruptions, quarantine, preparedness gear and much more.
Testimonials:
"Mike Adams' preparedness course turned our fears into confidence. This is POWERFUL information, coming from a trusted source. If you want to save yourself countless hours researching and getting prepared and if you want to do everything in your power to protect your family, I highly recommend the Health Ranger’s Advanced Preparedness Course."
- N. Nelson (Arizona)
"This is packed information no one should miss."
- T. Valenzuela
"Thanks Mike... during this class you covered prevention and preparedness from A to Z with integrity, brave honesty and outstanding knowledge! Thank you for your steadfast, thorough and cool-headed approach to well being. With deep gratitude for your service." - Bev
Available NOW for immediate shipping.
100% satisfaction guarantee
 NEW Product: Valley of Longevity Shampoo from the Health Ranger
• 98% Organic
• 100% Natural
• 100% Fragrance Free!
• No SLS
• No Parabens
• No synthetic chemicals
• FREE shipping in U.S. on orders over $75
Click here to read more...
|
|
|
Email this article to a friend
Share this article on: 
