Mark Fiore is very cross about TPP transparency. This one's a little painful to watch.

[madfloridian]

32. Stopping the poor from getting life-saving meds...

http://www.dailynews.com/government-and-politics/20150512/this-us-backed-pacific-trade-deal-could-stop-the-poor-from-getting-life-saving-meds

But the TPP also appears to have a darker side. Thanks to lobbying from the pharmaceutical industry, treaty drafts are thought to include a number of technical clauses, like longer patent periods, which would extend monopolies for eye-wateringly expensive brand name drugs.

That would cut off the supply of new, generic medicines — often up to 80 percent cheaper — for years or possibly even decades.

We say “appears” and “thought to” because no one outside the negotiations really knows. The talks are being held behind closed doors. And lawmakers in each of the TPP member countries will only be offered up-and-down votes on the entire treaty text, which will be thicker than an old-school phone book, once the negotiations have finished.

or patients without health insurance, like Ocampo, that could spell adios to the chance for new treatments for his prostate cancer.

Even for those covered by public or private health insurance, especially in poorer countries such as Peru and Mexico, that may put many treatments beyond already stretched health care budgets.

“The TPP agreement is on track to become the most harmful trade pact ever for access to medicines in developing countries,” warns Doctors Without Borders, an international aid organization.