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Published on March 8, 2008

Speaking at yesterday's final session of the committee looking into the controversial policy on compulsory licensing for cancer drugs with the National Cancer Institute and the Network of Patients Suffering from Cancer, he said the meeting had concluded that the country could save between Bt2 billion and Bt4 billion over five years from compulsory licensing for three treatments.

The drugs are docetaxel, sold as Taxotere by Sanofi Aventis; erlotinib, sold as Tarceva by Roche; and letrozole, sold as Femara by Novartis.

A study to estimate the budget for the three drugs over five years shows that the patent holder's price before negotiations was Bt3.7 billion to Bt9.3 billion, the price after talks was Bt2.4 billion to Bt4.6 billion - while the price of the generic drug versions is between Bt321 million and Bt909 million.

That means that if the government import generic drugs from India, the country could save Bt2 billion to Bt4 billion.

Public Health Minister Chaiya Sasomsap said the patients' network would be invited to decide the policy and the type of drugs  they want to use after he negotiates with the makers for price cuts.

Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation