Healthy Skepticism Library item: 8835

Warning: This library includes all items relevant to health product marketing that we are aware of regardless of quality. Often we do not agree with all or part of the contents.

Publication type: news

Bangkok's Drug War Goes Global
Wall Street Journal 2007 Mar 7
http://users2.wsj.com/lmda/do/checkLogin?mg=wsj-users2&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB117322181443628799.html

Abstract:

Thailand’s seizures of foreign drug patents earlier this year elicited cheers from the usual crowd of anti-patent hooligans. That’s not serious, per se. But by letting Bangkok’s actions go unchallenged — and in some official quarters, by supporting them — a dangerous precedent now risks being set.

If you don’t believe us, consider the proposals recently floated at the World Health Organization. In its January executive board meeting, Thailand’s representative, Dr. Suwit Wibulpolprasert, declared that if an influenza pandemic hit, he’d counsel Bangkok to hold Western tourists hostage until those countries gave Thailand the necessary vaccines. The Kenyan delegation said …

Notes:

See MSF response.