According to the Nation, if the Thai government decides to extend the “evergreen” system of patent laws, many Thais could effectively be priced out of the prescription drug market.
Thailand has classically remained stingy in handing out prescription drug patents, awarding patents to only 31 of 2,188 requests made between 2000 and 2010.
This policy has essentially allowed for the proliferation of generic pharmaceuticals in the Kingdom by forcing international pharmaceutical companies to relinquish their iron grip on patent medications. However, a plan to extend pharmaceutical patents in Thailand could soon change that.
Usawa-dee Maleewong of the Health Systems Research Institute says that if the government decides to extend its current patent scheme, it will essentially allow prescription drug makers in Thailand to create monopolies on prescription drugs by forcing generic pharmaceuticals off the market.
