{"id":20219,"date":"2015-11-13T10:28:48","date_gmt":"2015-11-13T02:28:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.imoney.my\/articles\/?p=20219"},"modified":"2015-12-28T10:23:48","modified_gmt":"2015-12-28T02:23:48","slug":"tpp-deal-may-result-in-more-expensive-drugs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.imoney.my\/articles\/tpp-deal-may-result-in-more-expensive-drugs","title":{"rendered":"TPP Deal May Result In More Expensive Drugs"},"content":{"rendered":"
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) \u2013 a massive trade pact between 12 Pacific Rim countries \u2013 could limit the availability of affordable medicines, said the head of the World Health Organisation.<\/p>\n
In a heated debate on the impact of TPP, Margaret Chan said there were \u201csome very serious concerns\u201d about the deal, a central plank of US President Barack Obama\u2019s trade policy which still needs to be ratified by member governments.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf these agreements open trade yet close the door to affordable medicines we have to ask the question: is this really progress at all,\u201d Chan asked a conference in Geneva.<\/p>\n
Countries like United States, Canada, Japan and Australia, who are backing the deal, say it will cut trade barriers and set common standards across 40% of the world’s economy.<\/p>\n
On the other end of the debate, which includes leaders of India\u2019s US$15 billion (RM65 billion) pharmaceuticals industry, say it could be protecting the patents of powerful drugs companies within the deal area, restricting makers of cheaper generic drugs outside.<\/p>\n
\u201cCan you bear the cost of US$1,000 for a pill to treat Hepatitis C?,\u201d Chan asked the audience of health experts, academics and diplomats.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnless we get these prices down many millions of people will be left behind.\u201d<\/p>\n
All countries under WHO do not object to the private sector making a fair profit, but she was concerned about companies influencing decision-making in health policy, she added.<\/p>\n
\u201cI worry about interference by powerful economic operators in the new targets for alcohol, tobacco and non-communicable diseases, including many that are diet-related. Economic power readily translates into political power.\u201d<\/p>\n
Chan urged TPPA to find the right balance between encouraging innovation and keeping drugs affordable, but some recent innovations had led to \u201castronomical\u201d price rises.<\/p>\n
Other than WHO, US unions, lawmakers and interest groups are also concerned over the text of the deal, setting up a potentially difficult path to ratification by the United States, the biggest of the 12 partners.<\/p>\n
US labour representatives said the agreement contained weak, poorly worded or unenforceable provisions.<\/p>\n
If the deal were to go ahead, the TPP will be a legacy-defining achievement for Obama and his administration’s pivot to Asia, aimed at countering China’s rising economic and political influence.<\/p>\n
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