With the world watching, last week Thailand appointed its new Government and with the induction of its new officials, Thai NGOs and activists got a taste of things to come. On the 2nd day in the office, Thailand's newly appointed Public Health Minister Chaiya Sasomsap stated that he would be reviewing his predecessor's action on issuing Compulsory Licenses (CL) held by several major foreign pharmaceutical firms. In particular, that he would immediately be reviewing the CL issued for four (4) Cancer drugs.

Speaking to journalists on his first day of taking office, Mr. Chaiya said issuing of a CL by former public health minister Dr. Mongkol Na Songkhla was a “sensitive issue” and that fair treatment regarding patents must be given to the drug manufacturers.

As activists and citizens of Thailand, we reaffirm our support for the actions of the previous Minister and our belief that the responsibility of any Government is to its people and their wellbeing.

Thai activists visited Sasomsap at his offices shortly after his briefing to the press and asked him to address his position on CL at which time he discussed other ways of making drugs available to patients that did not involve the ongoing use of Compulsory Licensing. When the Minister met with Thai Activists at his offices, he stated the belief that sometimes a decision needed to be made where the good of the country as a whole (economically, politically) needed to be placed above the good of the few (patients). He also stated his intention to take the matter before the Parliament to ask how he should proceed with the review.

On doing this, he was directed to work with senior officials of the commerce and foreign ministries for talks on the issue, as the issue is considered to be the responsibility of all three Ministries. Indeed, it was these two ministries that international pharmaceutical manufacturers had earlier sent letters of complaint to, when the previous Ministry of Health issued the CL.

Thai Activists are urging the Government to undertake any review of Compulsory Licensing in consultation and collaboration with Civil Society groups and have sought to be invited to the meeting. No invitation has been forthcoming and so today, Thursday 14th February 2008, patients groups, civil society and networks will join together and protest the decision to review a Government decision based on external pressure and given that the review appears to be inevitable, the lack of fair process and civil society inclusion in this review.

Thai Activists have sent an open letter to the three Ministries stating that they support the decisions of the previous Government to issue necessary and legal CL despite tremendous international pressure and that it was the right thing to do for Thailand and its citizens.

From Monday 18th February 2008, a letter of support will be available online at www.cl4life.net, and all activists are asked to go to the website and support Thai activists to continue to fight for Access to essential medicines and treatments.