Key Democrat Incensed Over ‘Intimidation’ For High Drug Prices

[Stuart G]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/sherrod-brown-colombia-drug-prices_us_57461dfee4b03ede4413c998

Sen. Sherrod Brown wants answers from the Obama administration.

In late April, Colombian diplomat Andrés Flórez sent two tense letters to leaders in Bogotá. If his government proceeded with plans to lower the price of an important leukemia treatment, it risked losing U.S. support for a major peace initiative intended to resolve decades of violent conflict in the South American nation.

Communications with both the Obama administration and a key Senate Republican staffer had convinced Flórez that the United States government vehemently opposed Colombia’s plan to allow a generic copy of the cancer drug Gleevec. Novartis, the Swiss pharmaceutical giant that has a monopoly on the drug in Colombia, charges more than double the nation’s per-capita income to treat a patient with Gleevec for one year. By issuing a so-called compulsory license to a generic drugmaker, Colombia could dramatically reduce those costs.

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has not publicly denied pressuring the Colombian government over Gleevec prices, nor has it disavowed invoking the Paz Colombia project during talks.

On Thursday, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) called on Michael Froman — the top trade official in the Obama administration — to acknowledge Colombia’s right to permit generic drugs under international law.

(further into article..this key paragraph..)...............

U.S. trade policy has prioritized the profits of pharmaceutical companies for decades, drawing ire from humanitarian groups, including Doctors Without Borders. Both the U.S. trade agreement with Colombia and World Trade Organization treaties protect a country’s right to issue generic drugs, however.
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So..the United States protects the profits of pharmaceutical companies above the interests of common people to get inexpensive medicine........throughout the world....???? Say it ain't so...!!!

[underpants]

1. Related - long read - how Pharma sets up charities to rip you off

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1016157352

[malaise]

4. Bookmarked

Thanks

[malaise]

2. To be honest

The United States is out of control. The 'not in the constitution agencies' run the country like Soviet Politbureau but on behalf of the corporation- is it fascism yet?? It's getting close.

[Dustlawyer]

9. It has been Fascism for a pretty long time, just not as open

as it is now!

[malaise]

10. To the extent that the national interest is aligned with the interests of corporations

you are correct

[Fix The Stupid]

3. Read this sentence...

"n late April, Colombian diplomat Andrés Flórez sent two tense letters to leaders in Bogotá. If his government proceeded with plans to lower the price of an important leukemia treatment, it risked losing U.S. support for a major peace initiative intended to resolve decades of violent conflict in the South American nation. "

Then read it again...

And again...

I can't even begin to put into words how wrong this is...

[valerief]

6. The U.S. plunders. That's why all our tax money goes to the war machine and not to citizens. nt

[Beartracks]

7. Don't worry! Clearly, impoverishing the people...

... through exorbitant drug pricing will help with the peace efforts.



=================

[Elwood P Dowd]

5. The USTR is nothing more than a revolving door of corporate crooks

masquerading as diplomats and trade specialists. They come from Wall Street banks such as Citigroup, spend a few years working on corporate giveaways such as TPP, then go back to Wall Street as heroes with massive bonuses and millions in extra salary.

[FairWinds]

8. Like Rob Portman (R-OH)

[jwirr]

11. I don't think Obama is going to listen. The TPP has a section

on drugs and the pharmacies are the ones who wrote it and who come out way ahead.

[gregcrawford]

12. I'm shocked! SHOCKED!!

To think that the Obama administration is infested with soulless sociopaths like maggots on the rotting corpse of democracy, all doing the bidding of corporate interests without the slightest concern for the people, or even the law. Merciful heavens! Whatever shall we do?

Why, blatantly rig the electoral process to ensure that the candidates of both grotesquely corrupt parties are "Business-friendly," and disinclined to give a bleeding rat's fuck about the people they claim they will represent. That oft-repeated claim, by the way, rates 20 billion Pinocchios.

PROGRAMS! GET YER PROGRAMS! CAN'T TELL A THIRD-WAY DEMOCRAT FROM A SLIME-BAG REPUBLICAN WITHOUT A PROGRAM!

[chknltl]

13. 'Our' government, of/by/for highest bidder.

Sadly, We The People are not the highest bidders.

Of course we could always elect representatives who serve the highest bidder and expect change in the corrupt system. Odd that we Dems don't take note that Republican voters keep voting for representatives who are also representing the highest bidders............too.