U.S. punishes India for placing public health before corporate profits [View all]
by Dr. Margaret Flowers
The U.S. Trade Report released yesterday continues to hold India in Priority Watch Status because India is not caving in to pressure from pharmaceutical corporations who want to sell high-priced patented medications in India. For the past decade, India has taken the lead in producing low-cost generic medications to meet important areas of need such as the treatment of infectious diseases. India also has a strict approval process for patented medications such that new pharmaceuticals must actually prove that they are more effective than current drugs before being approved.
India's actions mean that the people of India and their neighbors are able to afford life-saving medicines, but US pharmaceutical corporations are in an uproar because of barriers to making profit in India. The USTR also criticizes India for giving preferential treatment to local industries over international corporations. The report criticizes nations for not engaging in good faith negotiations with the U.S., but the Obama Administration is notorious for pressuring other nations to go against their own interests so that multinational corporations can profit.
Nations like India should not be punished for putting the needs of their populations first. And profit should not be made at the cost of suffering and preventable death. The development of more generic medicines and sharing of research that can improve or save lives rather than holding on to it as 'trade secrets' should be encouraged. .....................(more)
The complete piece is at: http://greenshadowcabinet.us/statements/flowers-us-punishes-india-placing-public-health-corporate-profits
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