WASHINGTON--11 May--PRNewswire-AsiaNet/InfoQuest ThaiMyths.com ( http://www.thaimyths.com ), a project of USA For Innovation, unveiled Myth #4 today to draw attention to the deceit in Thailand's decision to steal American and European innovation. Each business day for two weeks from May 7 - May 18, ThaiMyths.com will release additional information regarding one of the ten recent myths by the Health Minister Mongkol na Songkhla. Today's Myth: #4 of 10 Myth: Thailand's government pharmaceutical organization (GPO) delivers generic drugs to those who can't afford expensive medicine. Fact: Thailand's GPO is a state-run, profit-making entity with a history of corruption. FACT: Studies Consistently Emerge Finding GPO Officials Corrupt And Greedy. In Thailand, the GPO is known as "Sua Norn Kin" or as the "Skimming Profits" agency. "[T]he GPO's notorious practice explains why it is better known among its clients, pharmacists and health activists as the Sua Norn Kin (skimming profits) agency." (Editorial, "The GPO Is Up To Its Old Tricks," The [Thailand] Nation, 7/3/02) The International Policy Network's Philip Stevens suggested GPO's profits "line the pockets of Thailand's ruling class." "In 2005, the GPO made a profit of around $35.5 million and reinvested only about 2 percent of that sum into research and development. As one would expect, this money lines the pockets of Thailand's ruling class." (Philip Stevens, "Thailand Violates Drug Patents For Its Own Profit," Chicago Sun Times, Accessed 5/5/07) FACT: Thailand's recent decision to infringe patents has to do with making high profits - not lowering costs. The decision "leaves the GPO to reap all the cushy rewards" and provides "opportunities for the nation's politically connected to enrich themselves." "[T]his isn't about improving access to medicines for the Thai people. It's about establishing Thailand's state-owned drug manufacturer -- the Government Pharmaceutical Organization -- as a dominant regional manufacturer of copycatdrugs. Only the GPO can sell copycat drugs to the Thai government. ... This leaves the GPO to reap all the cushy rewards, which flow right back to the government and provide further opportunities for the nation's politically connected to enrich themselves." (Philip Stevens, "Thailand Violates Drug Patents For Its Own Profit," Chicago Sun Times, Accessed 5/5/07) FACT: An audit found the GPO actually charged far more for drugs than did private suppliers. GPO's Price quotes were up to 1,000 percent higher than private suppliers and it also passed along a 20 percent mark-up on drugs to hospitals. "GPO's price quotations for a list of 100 drugs were up to 1,000 per cent higher than those quoted by private suppliers. Many other drugs were available on the market cheaper than it charged, she added. [Auditor-General Jaruwan Menthaka]said the GPOT added a 20-per-cent mark-up on prices of drugs it bought from private suppliers, passing it on to hospitals." ("Medical Procurement," The [Thailand] Nation, 6/18/02) FACT: The GPO has a history of scandal. The Nation: The state drug-maker has not learned any lessons since the public health ministry medical-procurement scandal in 1998. "A recent report by the Office of the Auditor General stating that the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO) sold medical supplies to state agencies at inflated prices, has shown that the state drug-maker has not learned any lessons since thePublic Health Ministry medical-procurement scandal in 1998 in which it was also implicated." (Editorial, "The GPO Is Up To Its Old Tricks," The [Thailand] Nation, 7/3/02) About USA For Innovation and ThaiMyths.com USA For Innovation is a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of intellectual property and continued innovation around the globe. USA for Innovation educates decision makers, the media and general public about threats to innovation. ThaiMyths.com is a project of USA for Innovation intended to expose the web of deceit by Thailand's Health Ministry. For additionalinformation, please contact us at 866-646-8668 or [email protected] SOURCE: USA For Innovation CONTACT: USA For Innovation, +1-866-646-8668, [email protected] --Distributed by AsiaNet ( www.asianetnews.net )--