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Groups Ask Lawmakers to Support Generic Drug Access
A coalition of advocacy groups sent a letter to members of the House and Senate urging them to support resolutions that reaffirm the country’s commitment to trade policies that promote access to generic medicines. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) introduced S. Res. 241, and Rep. Tom Allen (D-Maine) introduced H. Res. 525 in June. The resolutions call on the U.S. to honor the commitments made in the 2001 World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha Declaration on the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) and public health, according to the Sept. 25 letter. The TRIPS agreement allows WTO member countries to issue compulsory licenses to promote access to generic versions of important medicines. The resolutions also recommend against punishing countries for issuing compulsory licenses under TRIPS, as the U.S. Trade Representative did earlier this year when it placed Thailand on the Special 301 Priority Watch List for issuing compulsory licenses for two HIV drugs and Plavix (clopidogrel bisulfate). |
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