TRIPS-Plus intellectual property rules: impact on Thailand's public health

Thailandhas proved that a well-fund, politically-supported public policy could be effective in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS on a national scale. It is currently facing increased pressure to accept higher standards of intellectual property (IP) protection (the so-called TRIPS-Plus) under bilateral free trade agreements (FTA) proposed by theUnited States. The proposed US FTA threatens to restrict the measures the country can take to pursue affordable drugs, and will affect ability ofThailandto continue its successful ARV treatment and other healthcare programmes. The paper argues that the TRIPS-Plus regime generates a negative impact on poor people’s access to medicines, and the ARV treatment programme inThailandis presented as an illustrative example.