Bitter medicine for Thailand in TPP trade deal
I recently travelled from Thailand to the US without thinking too much about the medicine I need. The 30 tablets I took with me had been purchased in Thailand for Bt720 (about $20).
When that box was empty and I needed more, I suffered two shocks. First came the $100 bill from the doctor for a five-minute consultation to get the prescription. Then the US pharmacy wanted $900 for 30 tablets. I refused with a laugh and was offered a generic version for $600, which I finally got for $125 after forking out a $25 membership fee.
For those of us who come from countries where free universal healthcare has been forged through decades of social solidarity, the US is a scary place. Stateside, most prescription medicines are said to cost five to seven times more than in Europe. Thais travelling to the US are likely to get an even bigger shock if they run out of their prescription drugs.
Thailand is currently considering joining the US-led Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade deal. What are the chances that the TPP will bring affordable medicine here should Thailand sign?
A Johnsen
