Angered U.S. Firm Excludes Thailand From New Drugs

[ClintonTyree]

http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/070314/thailand_drugs_abbott.html?.v=1

BANGKOK (Reuters) - U.S. drugs giant Abbott Laboratories said it would stop launching new medicines in Thailand in protest at the army-backed government's move to override international drug patents.

<snip>

There was no immediate reaction from the Health Ministry, which argues it needs cheaper, copycat drugs to ensure wider access for Thailand's 63 million people, including 580,000 living with HIV/AIDS.

<snip>

Paul Cawthorne of Medicins Sans Frontieres called Abbott's decision an "immoral act." Other critics accused Abbott of depriving Thailand's poor of lifesaving medicines, particularly a new formulation of Kaletra.

"Abbott has the hubris to blacklist a courageous country like Thailand simply trying to do the right thing for its people. Astounding," Michael Weinstein, president of the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, said in a statement.

The seven withdrawn drugs include the new version of Kaletra, an antibiotic, a painkiller and medicines to fight blood clots, arthritis, kidney disease and high blood pressure.

It's all about the money, isn't it? It's not that Abbott's wouldn't be making money, they just wouldn't be making what they THINK they should be making. And as far as the health of these people goes, well, if you want to stay healthy you'd better be ready to open your wallets wide. Profits are at stake here. How would Wall Street look upon you if you just went about curing people willy-nilly with no eye on record profits?

The NERVE of Thailand, taking on BIG PHARMA in order to protect the health of it's citizens. Who the hell do they think they are? :sarcasm: Is this the kind of government we'd want here in the good old U. S. of A? :patriot: Well...... yeah, sort of. It would be nice if our government cared more about it's citizens health than corporate profits, wouldn't it? :shrug: