European Commission’s pressure on Thailand : Mandelson sacrifices patients
On July 18th 2007, the European Commisoner for Trade wrote a letter to the governement of Thailand to criticize its access to medicines policy through compulsory licenses. After being put to pressure by the US drug giant Abbott Laboratories, Thailand now has to face the pressure of the European Union. The Trade Commissioner's letter effects a sharp rewrite of actual international law provisions on access to generic medicines, and expresses threats against Thailand - all in the interest of the patent-based pharmaceutical industry, and in complete disregard for the human consequences of hampering access to affordable lifesaving medication.