US threat to affordable medicines must be rejected, say public interest groups

Public interest groups attack US attempt to erode Australia's affordable medicines policy.

"The US Ambassador's call for Australia to remove an amendment to the US Free Trade Agreement implementing legislation that protects access to affordable medicines must be rejected" said Dr Patricia Ranald of the Public Interest Advocacy Centre and the Australia Fair Trade Investment Network.

The amendment, which the ALP insisted on before passing any enabling legislation through the Senate, attempts to prevent big drug companies from using bogus legal claims to delay consumers' access to cheaper generic medicines.

"The US wants us to adopt their laws on intellectual property, giving far more rights to drug companies than to consumers.

"The Ambassador's statement confirms our warnings that the USFTA reduces the ability of Australian governments to make laws and policies in the public interest in areas like access to affordable medicines. Once these issues are in a trade agreement, the US can interfere in our health policies" warned Dr Ranald.

Both the US and Australian government have until October 30 to finally sign off on the USFTA. However, the US is threatening not to sign unless this amendment is removed.

Dr Ranald pointed that the whatever the final outcome of the elections, the composition of the Senate will not change until July next year, so the government in fact will not have a majority on this issue.

"We call upon the ALP, Greens, Democrats and independents to keep their election pledges to stand by this amendment if the government attempts to change it, " said Dr Ranald.

"Access to affordable medicines should be determined democratically by parliament, not traded off in a trade agreement," said Dr Ranald.

Dr Ranald manages policy at the Public Interest Advocacy Centre and is the convenor of the Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network which consists of 90 community organisations concerned about the impact of the USFTA on Australian health and social policies.

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