The health ministry has made a deal with an Indian company to import a cheaper generic drug for patients with heart disease. Published on August 23, 2007
The ministry issued a compulsory licence in January to allow cheap versions of heart drugs to be produced in Thailand or imported from overseas.
Dr Wichai Chokevivatana, head of the compulsory licensing panel, said the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) would import the drug clopidogrel following negotiations with Emcure Pharmaceuticals.
He said four firms had submitted proposals to the agency last week and Emcure's bid
won.
The market price for clopidogrel was around Bt70 per tablet and for hospitals Bt90-Bt150 per tablet. But Emcure had proposed only Bt1 per tablet, Wichai said.
"The GPO will import and register the drug with the Food and Drug Administration as soon as possible. The first import will be two million pills, which could save Bt138 million from the national budget. The ministry expects to provide the drug to patients within two months."
Clopidogrel, known by the trade name Plavix, is often used to treat coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, and cerebrovascular disease, but is far too expensive for poor patients.
Only 20 per cent of patients could access drugs for heart disease, Wichai said.
The ministry issued a compulsory licence in January to allow cheap versions of heart drugs to be produced in Thailand or imported from overseas.
Dr Wichai Chokevivatana, head of the compulsory licensing panel, said the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) would import the drug clopidogrel following negotiations with Emcure Pharmaceuticals.
He said four firms had submitted proposals to the agency last week and Emcure's bid
won.
The market price for clopidogrel was around Bt70 per tablet and for hospitals Bt90-Bt150 per tablet. But Emcure had proposed only Bt1 per tablet, Wichai said.
"The GPO will import and register the drug with the Food and Drug Administration as soon as possible. The first import will be two million pills, which could save Bt138 million from the national budget. The ministry expects to provide the drug to patients within two months."
Clopidogrel, known by the trade name Plavix, is often used to treat coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, and cerebrovascular disease, but is far too expensive for poor patients.
Only 20 per cent of patients could access drugs for heart disease, Wichai said.
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