TPP threatens access to generic affordable medicines, say NGOS, Doctors Without Borders

[cali]

What? You thought I was only going to post 1 op about the TPP? Nah, I've got a bee buzzing around in my gingham bonnet.
This is a perspective out of Malaysia.


July 04, 2013

Countries negotiating the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement with the United States have been urged to follow Malaysia's lead in refusing harmful intellectual property proposals and assuring that people will continue to be able to access affordable medicines in the future.

snip

"And, as the host of the next round of TPP trade negotiations in just two weeks, it should solidify this commitment by firming up its recent pledge not to accept harmful provisions in the trade deal that will harm access to medicines, including HIV medicine," said a coalition of Malaysian organisations and international medical humanitarian organisation Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders in a joint statement yesterday.

<snip>

The Malaysian NGOs comprise the Malaysian AIDS Council, Third World Network, and Positive Malaysian Treatment Access and Advocacy Group. "Time is running out to fix the flawed TPP agreement, which currently contains a number of proposals from the US, that, if agreed upon, will block access to low-cost generic medicines for people in developing countries.

"The US, in particular, is pushing hard for countries to accept intellectual property provisions that will extend monopoly protection on high-priced pharmaceuticals and delay the entry of affordable generic medicine into developing countries," the statement said.

<snip>

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/tpp-threatens-access-to-generic-affordable-medicines-say-ngos-doctors-without-borders

[djean111]

1. I think ALL countries are insane if they sign on to this deal.

I'm starting to wonder if generics are are meant to be gotten rid of totally.
Block access, starve them out.
Whatever laws or protections that are in place can easily be ignored or changed, it seems.
Single payer will be moot, in a way - if there is no access to generics, and/or the government won't negotiate with Pharma, then premiums will go up up up no matter what. People will still not be able to afford their meds.

[cali]

2. except most countries are so deeply influenced by corporate power

OK, strangled by corporate power, that countries do what's good for the corporations. Nothing proves that claim truer than the TPP.

[fredamae]

3. I heard the vote will

happen in October. Anyone know if this is true?

That our POTUS (ANY POTUS) would give this Any consideration is in and of itself concerning--This seems like the final cog in the wheel of total corp takeover.