According to a report in the International Herald Tribune (via the Associated Press), the recently appointed head of Thailand's Food and Drug Administration resigned Monday "amid controversy over the new government's plan to review a policy of overriding patents on several expensive cancer-fighting drugs."
Chatree Banchuen was named secretary general of the FDA last week, making him the government's chief negotiator with multinational drug companies over pricing and licensing terms.
Chatree said he decided to resign because he felt "uncomfortable with the politics," explaining that critics had brought up old, unproven allegations linking him to corruption in a computer procurement project in 2003. He called the allegations "politically motivated and
groundless," without elaborating.
Here's a link to the complete article:
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/03/03/asia/AS-GEN-Thailand-Drug-Patents.php
Whether it's "questionable" purchasing practices for computers or prescription medicines it all equals the same thing -- theft.
Chatree Banchuen was named secretary general of the FDA last week, making him the government's chief negotiator with multinational drug companies over pricing and licensing terms.
Chatree said he decided to resign because he felt "uncomfortable with the politics," explaining that critics had brought up old, unproven allegations linking him to corruption in a computer procurement project in 2003. He called the allegations "politically motivated and
groundless," without elaborating.
Here's a link to the complete article:
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/03/03/asia/AS-GEN-Thailand-Drug-Patents.php
Whether it's "questionable" purchasing practices for computers or prescription medicines it all equals the same thing -- theft.
