Civil society groups and non-government organizations in Thailand have, since March 2020, been expressing their grave concerns over the adverse impact of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) on access to lifesaving medicines.
Today (5 August 2020), ahead of further discussions, community groups and civil society organizations from around the world have signed a joint letter to Thailand’s Prime Minister, echoing national concerns about the negative impact that the CPTPP could have on access to affordable, essential medicines.
Civil society experts have analysed the draft provisions of the Agreement and their assessment is that, by introducing trade rules more stringent than the World Trade Organization’s (WTO’s) Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), it could limit Thailand’s ability to take action to protect public health.
Concerns include that the CPTPP could limit and challenge compulsory licensing; create barriers to registering generic drugs; restrict national procurement; and adversely affect Thailand’s ability to respond to COVID-19 and any future pandemics, as well as current epidemics including HIV.
Read the letter in full online or download a copy.
If your organization would like to add its name, please email: [email protected]
