Pharmacists and health advocates have voiced opposition to a law that will cancel a regulation requiring state agencies to buy medical supplies from the Government Pharmaceutical Organisation (GPO). The GPO also sells the medicine to hospitals serving members of the gold card universal health insurance scheme, the Social Security Fund and those using public health facilities. She explained the GPO produces and sells medicine at affordable rates and helps stabilise drug prices in the market. Without it, the retail prices of drugs manufactured by private firms could spiral and the cost of medicine in general would be more expensive. "If the GPO cannot continue in business, drug prices will certainly go up," said Nimitr Tian-udom, director of the Aids Access Foundation.

Source: Bangkok Post May 18, 2017 23:40 UTC