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Published on February 4, 2008

The drugs are docetaxel sold as Taxotere by Sanofi Aventis, erlotinib sold as Tarceva by Roche and letrozole sold as Femara by Novartis. Dr Wichai Chokewiwat, chairman of the ministry's compulsory licensing committee, said the paper would illustrate the differences in price between the patented and generic versions. The ministry buys the generic versions from India.

The paper will be published on the ministry's website, too. Taxotere costs Bt26,500 per 89-milligram dose while the generic version costs Bt4,000.

Tarceva costs between Bt2,800 and Bt3,000 per tablet while the generic version costs between Bt275 and Bt735.

Femara was priced at Bt230 per tablet while the generic pill costs between Bt7 and Bt10.

Wichai explained that the ministry did not announce the imposition of compulsory licensing publicly last week because Public Health Minister Dr Mongkol na Songkla was about to leave office.

The ministry did not want him to answer questions.

Compulsory licensing is a controversial but World Trade Organisation-sanctioned device allowing governments to purchase or manufacture generic versions of patented medicines for the benefit of those who would otherwise be unable to afford treatment. Last year, the government imposed compulsory licensing on efavirenz sold as Sustiva or Stocrin, Kaletra and Plavix for HIV/Aids and heart diseases.

Respective manufacturers Bristol-Myers Squibb, Abbott Laboratories and Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Partnership protested the decision.

The Nation