A life-saving measure

Compulsory licensing is legitimate. Compulsory licences are explicitly allowed under the 2001 Doha Declaration on Trips and the Thai Public Health and Patent Act (section 51). Thailand's previous use of compulsory licences was fully compliant with international and national law.

Governments all over the world, including rich ones, use compulsory licences to protect the public interest, ensure equitable access, promote innovation and control anti-competitive prices.

Thailand has the right to protect its citizens from illness. Threats, real or imaginary, from vested interests should play no role in Thailand's decision to protect its citizens from death and disease through the use of compulsory licences.

2. Compulsory licences save lives. Without compulsory licensing, Thailand could not afford to offer universal access to effective but very expensive treatments for cancer, heart disease, diabetes and other conditions.

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