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Public Health Minister Mongkol na Songkhla Monday said his ministry would enforce compulsory licenses on more necessary medicines.

Speaking at a public forum, he disclosed that he would announce the compulsory licenses on drugs for killer diseases such as cancer after the United States Trade Representative (USTR) released its update about the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) programme.

Designed to promote economic growth in the developing world, the programme provides preferential duty-free entry for more than 4,650 products from 143 designated beneficiary countries and territories.

Earlier this year, USTR has already downgraded Thailand's trade status to Priority Watch List citing widespread property-rights violations.

Thai business entrepreneurs have expressed concerns that USTR may deprive them of some privileges.

"We will enforce the compulsory licenses only where necessary without causing damages to patent holders," Mongkol said Monday.

The public forum was held at the Parliament House.

The Nation