Both drugs have been issued with a compulsory license in order to make them more affordable, without the permission of the patent holder. Under World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, a government is allowed to declare a “national emergency” and license the production or sale of a patented drug in this way.
“We have to do this because we don't have enough money to buy safe and necessary drugs for the people under the government's universal health scheme,” Thailand health minister Mongkol na Songkhla told reporters.
Thai health authorities previously authorized generic versions of Merck's HIV/AIDS drug Efavirenz in November last year.
The most recent decision has resulted in criticism from pharmaceutical firms as Thailand has also proposed laws to tighten controls on overseas companies. The price of the blood-thinner Plavix, made by Bristol-Myers Squibb and Sanofi-Aventis, has been predicted to fall more than 90% as a result of the licenses.
The chairman of Bangkok-based pharmaceutical industry group PReMA said that it might challenge the move.