Eyes on Thailand-EU FTA negotiations: Concerns over impact on drug prices and public access
Thailand is currently in the process of negotiating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union (EU), a topic that has garnered significant attention from civil society, particularly regarding intellectual property provisions that could directly impact Thailand's public health system in the future.
Civil society groups have expressed concern that if Thailand accepts the intellectual property conditions proposed by the EU, domestic drug prices could skyrocket. It is estimated that drug expenditures could rise to as high as 3.7 trillion baht, which would become a heavy burden for patients and the state budget.
The primary concern is the extension of drug patents, which could make it more difficult for generic drugs to enter the market, thereby preventing the public from accessing affordable medication. This issue poses a risk to the nation's drug security and could make the treatment of major diseases so costly that it exceeds the financial capacity of the majority of the population.
As negotiations continue, all relevant sectors must carefully consider how to strike a balance between promoting free trade and protecting the rights of Thai people to access medicine, ensuring that this agreement does not have a long-term negative impact on the quality of life and health of the public.